pre-feasibility assessment report - Innovationeasterncape.co.za

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African Development Economic ConsultantsADECOverseasUniversitiesThe Department regularly hosts internationalconferences such as the International Symposium onTechnetium and Rhenium, among others. Suchgatherings have seen NMMU researchers from thePhysics Department exchanging knowledge withscientists in academia from the USA, France,Belgium, Germany, Russia, and Iran.NRF-rated researchers, including Prof. Japie Engelbrecht (C2), Prof. JanNeethling (C3), Prof. Reinhardt Botha (C2), and Prof. Andrew Leitch (B3) areamong the key staff anchoring the Physics Department’s research efforts. Prof.Jan Neethling is an expert in electron microscopy and is one of the leadingelectron microscopists in South Africa. He is currently working oncharacterisation of fuel for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). ThePBMR is a public-private partnership comprised of South African government,nuclear industry players, and firms in the utilities industry. Researchers fromother universities and research institutes such as the Institute of Nuclear andNew Energy Technology (INET) of Tsinghua University and the ChinergyCompany (China) are also involved in the SA PBMR project.Prof. Neethling is the current President of the Microscopy Society ofSouthern Africa (MSSA), a research-focused non-governmental organizationestablished in 1962 to promote and develop the field of microscopy. Pastpresidents of MSSA include Prof. Candace Lang (University of Cape Town) andProf. Mike Witcomb (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg). .Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).NMMU was selected as the home for the first atomic resolution transmissionelectron microscope in South Africa, mainly due to the expertise of Prof.Neething. The microscope, and associated equipment, will become part of theCentre for HRTEM currently being established at the NMMU, of which Prof.Neethling will be the Director. Current facilities for HRTEM in South Africa areinadequate for nano-materials characterisation and research, and the Centre’sequipment and expertise is required if SA are to advance in this field. TheCentre will carry out basic, applied and contract research and also focus onexploration of applications and commercialization of innovations in the field ofnanoscience. The Centre will be available to academic researchers from alluniversities and colleges in South Africa as well as those in the Sub-Saharanregion and corporate researchers in nanoscience.DST, NRF, Sasol, Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, and the NMMU willfinance the project to the total of approximately R178 million. A ScientificAdvisory board (SAB) will assist Prof. Neethling with determining the strategicand technical direction for the Centre. The SAB will be comprised of nationallydistinguishedresearchers and industrialists in nanoscience.Textile Science and CSIR. NMMU enjoys a leverage of technical expertisebetween its senior key personnel at the Textiles Department and the local CSIROffice. Prof. Lawrence Hunter, Head of the Textile Science Department, was afull-time staff member of the CSIR (he recently retired). Dr. Rajesh Anandjiwala103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 40
African Development Economic ConsultantsADEC(a Chief Researcher in the Fibres and Textiles Unit with CSIR) and Dr. FrancoisBarkhuysen (Principal Researcher in the Fibres and Textiles Unit at CSIR) arealso engaged to the Textile Science Department as Research Associates. Dr.Anandjiwala is currently supervising a number of postgraduate researchprojects within the Textile Science Department.Dr. Barkhuysen’s career in Fibres and Textiles spans almost 40 years. Heis Chairman of the Non-Woven Textiles Association South Africa, andCoordinator for Africa for the FAO/ESCORENA European CooperativeResearch Network on Flax and Other Plants. He is also the Coordinator of theFibre-Reinforced Composites project for Advanced Manufacturing Technology,a DST-run project. He has taken a leading role in the development of at leastfive patented products and processes during his career in fibres and textiles.The input of highly-respected researchers like Dr. Barkhuysen and Dr.Anandjiwala has enhanced the quality of research products and processesproduced at NMMU.Fibre Innovation Hub (FIH) Project. The Eastern Cape DevelopmentCorporation (ECDC), Provincial Department of Agriculture and EnvironmentalAffairs (DAE), the Cacadu District Municipality (CDM), agave farmers (in theCDM), and the CSIR office in Port Elizabeth are currently collaborating on afibre innovation hub project. The project has completed the research phase anddeliberations with potential investors are underway.School of Engineering. The Mechatronics Department and theAutomotive Components Technology Station (ACTS) have collaborativeagreements with overseas universities and local firms in the automotive industry(through ACTS) on research, product development, and process engineering.ACTS, under the leadership of Prof. Danie Hattingh, an NRF C1-ratedresearcher, has increased its clientele portfolio to at least 250 SMMEs.Research ChairsAwarding of research chairs to local universities is a DST initiativeadministered by the NRF. Since its inception in 2007, 68 research chairs invaried disciplines have been awarded to South African universities. The NRF istargeting awards for at least 210 research chairs by 2010. The major goal of theprogramme is to have strategic locations (based on the university’s competitivestrengths) through which interventions can be made by DST and otherstakeholders to improve the quality and quantity of research in South Africa.Holders of such research chairs receive funding for salaries, equipment andresearch expenses.There are also a number of private sector role players that award researchchairs to various universities for stimulating research and building capacity intheir field of interest. To date the following research chairs have been awardedto NMMU;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 41
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