Beijing, PRC, 23 January 2018 - From one of the most exciting science projects of the century – exploring the origins of the universe – to raising the bar of super computing and putting fly-farming on the animal feed map, South Africa is forging a knowledge-based economy through research and innovation.
“Leadership in science & technology in Africa and collaboration with the world’s leading scientific institutes is recognised as the key to increased well- being and prosperity,” said Mr. Tshepiso Malele, Acting Head of China for Brand South Africa, the government agency managing South Africa’s national brand reputation.
At the cutting-edge of astro-physics, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in the Northern Cape of South Africa, is home to one of the biggest scientific experiments ever undertaken. The largest and most sensitive radio telescope complex of 64 antenna dishes is being built as part of an international collaboration to create the world’s largest network of radio telescope seeking answers about the universe.
A project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the SKA will attempt to answer some of the most important questions in astrophysics, physics, cosmology and other scientific fields, and to help us understand how the universe evolved, how stars and galaxies form, what dark matter is, and more.
“After the International Space Station and the Large Hadron Collider, the SKA is the world's next great science project, helping to answer some of the world's biggest mysteries,” said the SKA head of the operations Dr. Lindsay Magnus.
Not only is this project exciting the global scientific community, it is also making a huge impact in the lives of local people, to date creating over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs, including building a new 90km road to the remote telescope facility.
An example of a technological breakthrough within the environmental and agricultural sector is AgriProtein, the first company in the world to put fly-farming on the animal feed map.
With research funding by the Department of Science and Technology, the company has successfully developed a nutrient recycling technology converting organic waste to animal feed protein, by diverting large volumes of organic waste from landfills to feed larvae which grow into the maggots used for the insect meal.
Insect meal is a more sustainable alternative than fishmeal and AgriProtein’s leadership in the emerging waste-to-nutrient industry which seeks to put the world's growing organic waste mountain, estimated to top one billion tonnes by 2025, to good use.
Currently 8.5 billion flies recycle 250 tonnes of waste a day, boosting larvae production to 50 tonnes a day, and the clean-tech pioneer has been recognised among the Global Cleantech Top 100.
South Africa is also celebrating 10th anniversary of high-performance computing at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC). The fastest computer in Africa named Lengau, a Setswana name for Cheetah, and is ranked 121 on the world’s Top 500 list of supercomputers.
“The super-computing facility is evidence of our determination to be globally competitive in certain areas of science, and of the competence of South African scientists and engineers to develop, implement and maintain such cutting-edge technologies”, says Dr. Happy Sithole, Director at the CHPC.
Hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the super-computer has dramatically improved South Africa’s competitiveness in research and development globally, and enables scientists to conduct their research locally without having to travel abroad for higher performance computing infrastructure.
“High-performance computing has grown tremendously since its inception. When we started, there were about 50 users across the country, but over the years it has increased to over 700 users. More so, these systems have also been integrated into universities, thus improving students’ skills”, added Dr. Sithole.
Among international scientific collaborations, South African researchers last year joined scientific teams from across the globe on an exceptional expedition around Antarctica to investigate the impact of pollution and climate change on the ocean.
The Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE) aboard the Russian research vessel, Akademik Treshnikov, was the first project of the newly-created Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) - a joint venture of various Swiss research and educational institutions that aims to spark the interest of a new generation of young scientists in polar research, from biology to climatology to oceanography, for the future of the continent.
South Africa and Russia are meanwhile celebrating 10 years of collaboration in nuclear research. South Africa is an associate member of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), an independent, multinational research agency exploring particle physics, nuclear physics and condensed matter physics.
South Africa, Norway and the United States recently launched a joint venture in marine research in Cape Town, gathering information from three oceans around southern Africa to help dealing with global change across the continent. The University of Cape Town and Norway’s Nansen Environmental Centre are among partners in this research advancing knowledge of the marine environment and climate system.
Chinese and South African high-tech companies also joined forces at the recent South Africa-China Exhibition advancing new technologies in the life sciences, new energy, environmental protection, electronic information, communication and automation technologies, as well as equipment manufacturing.
The exhibition created a platform for South African and Chinese science councils and industry players to exchange information on new technological trends and foster collaborative linkages, from the world of drones and robotics to high-tech medicine. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has enjoyed good relations with China's Ministry of Science and Technology since South Africa signed a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement with China in 1999.
South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, was honoured by The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) with the prestigious 2016 Award for Science Diplomacy for her role in science diplomacy. The world's largest scientific society not only recognised her integration of science in policymaking in South Africa, but also her support of young scientists and female scientists, supporting initiatives that encourage international collaboration in Africa and internationally.
On the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with The People's Republic of China on January 1, 1998, South Africa’s ties with China are blossoming on levels – from trade and investment to education, science and research, arts and culture, media and journalism, and close political ties.
China is today South Africa’s largest trade partner – and South Africa is one of China's major import sources, as well as fourth-largest investment destination. It was also at China’s initiative that South Africa was invited to join the influential BRICS group of five co-operating global economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Notes to the Editor
About Brand South Africa
Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country's brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness. Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.
For more information about Brand South Africa, please visit www.brandsouthafrica.com
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Rhoda Adams GHC Asia T: +86 (0) 158 1034 2850
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