THRIP brings together government, industries, universities and science councils focusing in innovation, technology and scientific development

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 24, 2017/APO Group/ -- 

The Deputy Director-General responsible for Special Economic Zones and Economic Transformation at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr. Sipho Zikode says programmes like the Technology and Human Research for Industry (THRIP) can be used to strengthen the Public Private Partnership (PPPs) initiative by government. Zikode was speaking at the THRIP agro-processing symposium organised by the dti in Sandton today.

The purpose the two-day symposium is to create a conducive environment where government funded research is show-cased to relevant industry for possible exploitation and industrialization, and also to engage important stakeholders on the critical issues in the agriculture and agro-processing value chain.

“As you know THRIP brings together government, industries, universities and science councils focusing in innovation, technology and scientific development. This is what we call a PPP initiative, and with this THRIP symposium we are targeting the agro-processing sector which is one of our Industrial Policy priority sectors that we have to develop and promote for reasons of beneficiating our produce and ensuring that we create sustainable jobs in South Africa,” said Zikode.

According to Zikode, THRIP has a chance to ensure that the work that was started a long time ago, and continued with the new government will expand the programme and will keep it abreast of new changes.

“We need to look into the future and make sure that THRIP is not left behind when it comes to issues of the new industrial revolution and manufacturing 4.0. It is all about strengthening the programme and opening it up to more industry players. We also need to ensure we bring in and support other science and innovation institutions, universities, technical colleges and students that are in the rural and poor areas,” he said.

An incubatee at the Gert Sibande Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, Mr. Philani Simelane who produce fresh culinary herbs like dried and ground coriander and was showcasing his products at the symposium, said innovation in the agro-processing and agricultural sector is not as easy as it is in other fields.

He said as a private black youth owned enterprise operating in the field of agriculture, it is easy to produce a fresh herb and getting it to a retail stores, but when you get to expand to a by-product there are a lot of elements involved in production thereby making it more expensive to get a certification from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and South African Bereau of Standards.

He added that with the help of government and incubator programmes the possibility of new improved technology and innovation will make it easy and possible in the future.

the dti in partnership with the private sector has been to supporting industry relevant research through THRIP for over two decades.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.