Johannesburg: Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Dr. Nomalungelo Gina emphasized the crucial role of innovation in driving economic growth and industrialization at the South African Innovation Week (SAIW) 2026, held at Nasrec, Johannesburg. She stressed that countries focusing on innovation rather than importing technology solutions tend to emerge as stronger economies.
According to South African Government News Agency, Dr. Gina highlighted the Science, Technology, and Innovation Decadal Plan (2022-2032) as a strategic roadmap to integrate innovation into the nation's socio-economic framework. The plan ambitiously targets an increase in research and innovation funding to 1.5% of the Gross Expenditure on R and D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP, up from the current 1%.
Dr. Gina identified underfunding in research and development as a significant challenge, noting that industries have not sufficiently invested in developing new technologies. She pointed out that many technology demonstrators and prototypes hosted by agencies like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and universities have not transitioned into economic applications due to limited uptake by the private sector. The department aims to bridge these innovation gaps through industry partnerships.
The Deputy Minister also addressed the skills deficit in the country, particularly in new technology-driven sectors such as AI. She noted a mismatch between the skills of graduates and the needs of the emerging gig economy, underscoring the urgency to cultivate STEM-related professionals to play pivotal roles in the new economy.
Dr. Gina called for a coordinated approach to innovation, advocating for pooling funding instruments to support R and D, commercialization, and registration of Intellectual Property. She emphasized ecosystem-wide coordination as essential to success, with a focus on integrating science, technology, and innovation across government, education, and industry sectors.
SAIW26 serves as a platform to consolidate the innovation ecosystem's energy, talent, and capital, featuring a national program for provincial innovation engagements throughout South Africa. - SAnews.gov.za