South Africa Includes Biotech in 10- Year Plan

The South Africa Cabinet has recently approved its Ten-Year Innovation Plan for South Africa (2008-2018). It includes biotechnology as an essential part of the plan. In  “Innovation Towards A Knowledge Economy” where the Plan was presented,  Dr. Phil Mjawara, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, stressed that South Africa is positioning itself for the knowledge economy and innovation was deemed to be a key ingredient. Research and development investment by government, Mjawara said, was important to increase “both the capacity to innovate internally and the capacity to absorb external innovation.” He identified grand challenges for science and technology, among which was the need to leverage research and development investments and see to the growth of the biotechnology industry.

Highlights of the Cabinet meeting are available at http://link2media.co.za/PrView.cfm?id=2328217. Additional information provided by Margaret Karembu of the East and Central Biotechnology Information Center in Nairobi.