pre-feasibility assessment report - Innovationeasterncape.co.za

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African Development Economic ConsultantsADECThe consulting team has developed this more realistic and groundedunderstanding of the potential for a Science Park in Port Elizabeth by focusingon the opportunities for building partnerships and collaboration, the bestapproaches for building on regional economic strengths and targeted funding,and the market viability of property development related to the science parkconcept.The following report includes an Economic Overview in Section 1 thatsummarises key local and regional economic and demographic trends andidentifies the area’s competitive economic strengths. Target industries andeconomic development strategies identified by local and regional governmentare also summarized. Section 2 provides a summary of the local research andproduct development (R&D) base, including descriptions of the universities andother institutions, corporate research entities, state-funded organizations, andnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in research. Section 3identifies overall local R&D strengths, through an examination of recognizedfield leadership, rankings, collaborations and linkages, publications, and otherfactors associated with local institutions and private sector research activity.The fourth section of this report examines trends in research funding at thelocal, national, and international levels and identifies key areas of researchfunding that are matched to local research strengths.Section 5 forecasts the office and industrial market potentials for specificresearch park sites within the local area, based on preliminary Market PotentialsAnalyses. A research and development park must function within thecompetitive market and capture its fair share of business services, industrialtesting, and other activities supportive of the park’s success. Section 6provides a baseline Marketing Strategy for the park, including an overallmarketing concept and conceptual development programme and recommendedphasing approach. Finally, Section 7 provides initial input to a discussion of theway forward for this project, in the form of a “Preliminary” ImplementationStrategy. This brief strategy initiates discussion of possible collaborations androles in the management, marketing, and development of a park; economicdevelopment benefits; and an Action Plan to carry the process to the next step.Appendices to the report provide additional information.As the process moves forward, there will be a need to communicate thesefindings to the key stakeholders and ensure buy-in to the concept. From there, afull feasibility study and master plan will be required to ensure that the project isviable. During the feasibility and planning process, there will be the opportunityfor more in-depth analysis, collaboration amongst key stakeholders, andstrategic planning to guide appropriate implementation.103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 2
African Development Economic ConsultantsADECSection 1.ECONOMIC OVERVIEWSection 1 provides an overview of the economic and demographic basewithin the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and the Eastern Cape Province as awhole. An understanding of the overall economic base in the region is essentialin providing context for establishing the potential for an R&D or science park.The benefits from commercialization of products borne of scientific research aremaximized in an environment where such research is targeted to the key growthsectors in the regional economy. Thus, an understanding of the region’s growthopportunities is essential.Provincial and local governments have already completed assessments oftheir respective economies and developed targets for business and industrialdevelopment. Existing documents, such as the Provincial Growth andDevelopment Plan, Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), andmunicipal LED strategies, were reviewed in order to identify the key targets andgrowth factors based on previous research. But in addition, ADEC hasconducted its own review of basic economic and demographic trends in theregion in order to identify key strengths and weaknesses.The competitive strengths of the Eastern Cape and Nelson Mandela BayMetro were identified based on the aforementioned research as well as on fieldreconnaissance and an analysis of key economic and demographic factors.This assessment of competitive advantages was also informed by input fromprivate companies on their R&D activities as well as on the factors affecting theregion’s business growth in general.Economic Trends and DriversAn analysis of economic trends was conducted for Nelson Mandela BayMetropolitan Municipality (NMB), within the context of the provincial economy.The economic position of the Metro was assessed vis-à-vis the othermunicipalities and districts within the Eastern Cape. The assessment focusedon resident employment trends by sector and industrial contributions towardsthe provincial GDP amount (economic activities). The key economic drivers inNMB are also identified.Eastern Cape ProvinceEastern Cape Province is among the most impoverished in South Africa.The province is ranked second (behind Limpopo) in the share of children livingin poverty (77.5%) 1 and extreme poverty persists in the former “homelands” ofTranskei and Ciskei, where the economy depends on subsistence farming. Theprovince’s working age population is estimated by Statistics South Africa at3,998,000 as of June, 2009. This is the third largest in the country, afterGauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Yet the province’s economically-active population1 University of Cape Town Children’s Institute, Children Count: Abantwana Babalulekile, 2007103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 3
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