The CSIR's enterprise creation for development activities have been singled out for the Award for Business Incubation and Information at the Forging Enterprise 2015/11th Annual Meeting and Forum of the International Network for Small & Medium Enterprises held in Cape Town recently.

This award is one of 19 Small Business Promotion Pioneer Awards for institutions that have played a special pioneering role in South Africa.

The CSIR became active in the small business development domain since 1994 as part of its response to the goals of the then Reconstruction and Development Programme. As a science council, and an agency of government, the CSIR saw the potential of science and technology as a key input in establishing new enterprises, creating jobs, meeting basic needs, eradicating poverty and underdevelopment, increasing black participation in the economy, rural development and human capital development.

“The CSIR started different programmes to address these national priorities under the banner of technology for development. One such activity was small business development, which has since grown significantly and developed into a range of enterprise creation for development activities, which underpin the CSIR’s commitment to implementation of solutions for socio-economic benefit in South Africa and on the African continent,” says Johan le Roux, Executive Director: CSIR Implementation Unit.

This pioneering work undertaken by the CSIR from 1994 to date, led to many firsts in South Africa, such as the establishment of the first black-owned supplier to the automotive sector; the establishment of the first  black-owned supplier to the defence sector; the establishment of the CSIR manufacturing incubator (one of the first incubators in the country); the establishment and operation of the national incubator programme, GODISA, on behalf of the departments of Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry; and the establishment of the National Technology Transfer Centre.

In addition, the CSIR was involved in the establishment of the Manufacturing Advisory Centres programme, and various Entrepreneurial Support Centres across the country.

The CSIR has been involved in the establishment of more than 100 enterprises and pilot projects since the inception of its enterprise creation or development activity, and continues to support a number of small businesses with enterprise development activities.

Acknowledgement for this work of the CSIR in small business promotion was evident in the Daimler Chrysler Environmental Leadership Award for the Sisal Fibre Project. A BBQ Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to TC Manufacturing, a small business that the CSIR helped to establish.

Representing the CSIR at the award’s ceremony, Alan Webb who runs the CSIR’s coastal enterprise creation for development activities, noted, “We are honoured to receive this award. It is an acknowledgment of the work by our current team of dedicated enterprise development specialists, as well as that of our colleagues who contributed to the activities over the past 20 years."

About the CSIR

The CSIR is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research, technological innovation as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of the country’s people. www.csir.co.za