News
Ongoing investment by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in data science continues to yield positive results, as more and more young people are trained to use it for the development of innovative solutions to socio-economic challenges.
The work of the Data Science for Impact and Decision Enhancement (DSIDE) programme gives students the opportunity to be mentored by experienced members of the data science community during their vacations.
Through its Real-Time Information Management Systems (RTIMS) programme, the Mandela Mining Precinct is developing a 360-degree holistic offering enabling the digitalisation of the South African mining industry.
The CSIR and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) have announced a five-year partnership that will contribute towards the acceleration of technology development and commercialisation in the country.
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in Pretoria on Friday, 6 December 2019. Both organisations believe that this partnership will drive and enhance research and development (R&D) outputs across all sectors, and build technology development capacities in South Africa.
The CSIR has developed a "novel liver toxicity model which aims to predict best treatment outcome for patients in Africa". This synthetic biology technology will inform a digital precision medicine platform which can help predict the adverse effects of drugs based on unique African genetics.
Fibre connectivity is required between the SKA core site in the Northern Cape and a data processing facility in Cape Town to transport the science data for the SKA project and its precursor, MeerKAT. Therefore, there is a requirement to build an underground dark fibre link from Beaufort West along the N1, R381 via Loxton town and the R63 to Carnarvon. Read for more information.
The Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre, a CSIR initiative, in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation, invites interested small, medium and micro-sized enterprises to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the product development of four plants, namely Harpagophytum Procumbens (Devil’s Claw), Siphonochilus Aethiopicus (African Ginger), Pelargonium sidoides (African Geranium) and Sutherlandia frutescens (Cancer Bush).
Download form here.
Closing date for the submission of EOIs: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
The CSIR is at an advanced stage of implementing its new strategy, a move that will see the adoption of a re-organised CSIR-wide operating model.
To this end, the science, engineering and technology (SET) staff reorganisation and confirmation commenced in August 2019 and this process was completed successfully in September 2019. After a rigorous process of reviewing and benchmarking against our peers, both locally and internationally, in October 2019, we commenced with the reorganisation of our support staff across the CSIR.
The second phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy in South Africa proposes three additional Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) for wind and solar photovoltaic energy projects.
The REDZs support the responsible implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) that was recently gazetted by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy on 17 October 2019. Renewable energy projects that could be developed in these new REDZ have the potential to make significant contributions to mine rehabilitation and to support a just energy transition in the specified areas including where 12 GW of existing coal power stations are planned to be decommissioned by 2030.
A new initiative to drive socioeconomic development through public-private partnerships was launched in Limpopo, on 29 October 2019. The Impact Catalyst is an initiative founded by Anglo American, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Exxaro and World Vision South Africa to leverage collaboration across all sectors and magnify impact through collaboration.