technological

A fuel cell feasibility study will accelerate mineral beneficiation and localisation of fuel cell manufacturing. It will also help to increase the demand for platinum during a downturn in the market. The government has pumped R15m into the study, which is expected to be completed within a year.

The Technology Innovation Agency has adopted a five-year strategy that focuses on partnerships, collaboration and high yield synergistic relationships, nationally, on the continent and further afield. The aim is to position South Africa for greater localisation and beneficiation.

Teachers across South Africa are turning away from the traditional blackboard and are plugging into technology in their attempts to become better educators. Along the way, they have found that learning is more fun, and that children are keener to get to grips with their education.

The Square Kilometre Array will contribute to Africa's efforts to build innovation-led, knowledge-based economies, says Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. It fits into African Union's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy and is developing a new cohort of young scientists.

In his State of the Province Address delivered on Monday 23 February, Gauteng Premier David Makhura outlined his government's plans to transform, modernise and reindustrialise the most economically developed region in Africa. Read the full speech here.

The adoption of new technologies in the mining sector and innovation around robotics and mechanisation is helping to enhance South Africa's global competitiveness, writes Brand SA board member Rick Mennell.

In just one year, the financial benefits for South Africa from using renewable energy sources totalled R5.3-billion, exceeding the costs of wind and solar projects by almost R1-billion, an independent study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has found.

As South Africa joins the discussion on improving the state of the world at the WEF meeting in Davos, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, CEO of the National Research Foundation, argues that education and innovation are the most important routes to growing South Africa's economy.

As the world's economic leaders gather in Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum, Team South Africa prepares to tell a story of innovation and skills development focused on boosting employment and pushing the country ahead of the pack in the emerging economies.

President Jacob Zuma will be heading up the high-level South African delegation of cabinet ministers and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from 21 to 24 January, the Presidency said on Wednesday.