Emerging digital technologies

What we do

Emerging Digital Technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

Emerging digital technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

We de-risk investments in emerging digital technologies by conducting research and developing technology building blocks that government and industry can adopt to drive digital disruption, enabling local enterprises to remain relevant, innovative and competitive.

Emerging Digital Technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

Emerging digital technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

We de-risk investments in emerging digital technologies by conducting research and developing technology building blocks that government and industry can adopt to drive digital disruption, enabling local enterprises to remain relevant, innovative and competitive.

Emerging Digital Technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

Emerging digital technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Centre

We de-risk investments in emerging digital technologies by conducting research and developing technology building blocks that government and industry can adopt to drive digital disruption, enabling local enterprises to remain relevant, innovative and competitive.

Contact information:

Professor Adnan Abu Mahfouz
Centre Manager
@email 

 

 

Highlights

CSIR student researcher awarded best student paper at Foundational Digital Capabilities Research 2025 Conference

Empowering enterprises, government and society through cutting-edge emerging technologies

The Emerging Digital Technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (EDT4IR) Research Centre is dedicated to propelling South Africa towards global leadership in the 4IR and beyond. Designed to foster digital innovation, the centre de-risks industry investment in 4IR technologies, addressing critical gaps in the competitiveness of local enterprises within the global digital economy. By bridging this divide, the EDT4IR Centre supports businesses and government to harness disruptive technologies and remain relevant and competitive. Read more.

CSIR's Dr Reevana Balmahoon speaker of the Master Class at the SDG Agenda Conference

Dr Reevana Balmahoon on how AI can be leveraged to advance the SDGs

The CSIR’s Dr Reevana Balmahoon shared insights on how AI can be leveraged for social good and to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Digitalisation Agenda Conference, hosted by the National School of Government in partnership with the German Institute of Development and Sustainability, in Cape Town. She highlights that the SDGs are not merely goals but also represent the dreams and hopes of individuals and communities. AI and innovation and gender equity, particularly women’s empowerment and the role of financial institutions and the reforms they require, play a key role in achieving the goals.

Our research

Distributed ledger technologies

Distributed ledger technologies

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We advance blockchain technology and promote the responsible use of cryptocurrencies to build trust, transparency and security in the digital economy. Through applied research and innovation, we support the growth of South Africa’s blockchain industry and contribute to shaping national policy on emerging decentralised systems. Our work lays the foundation for secure identity, trusted data management and resilient financial infrastructure, supporting inclusive transformation.

Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality

Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality

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We help organisations achieve operational excellence through AI and extended reality, offering industry-specific solutions for intelligent automation, visual inspection and immersive training to drive performance, optimise expenditure and enable scalable digital transformation with trustworthy, impactful technologies.

Advanced internet of things

Advanced internet of things

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We provide end-to-end Internet of Things research and development, from edge devices to cloud-hosted systems. This includes platforms, networks, security and business model innovation support for industry, delivered by a large team of engineers and scientists.