pre-feasibility assessment report - Innovationeasterncape.co.za

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African Development Economic ConsultantsADECcapabilities will result in the transfer of innovation and economic potentials toother research institutions outside of the region. Key R&D activities, assets,and related business opportunities in the region with potential for economicspin-off were identified and categorized below.High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM)Establishment of the Centre for HRTEM facility at NMMU under theleadership of Professor JH Neethling will help create R&D andcommercialization opportunities relating to nanotechnology in the region andthroughout South Africa. The HRTEM Centre will enable researchcollaborations between the institution, other local and foreign researchinstitutions, and potential investors. Such collaborations can result indevelopment of electronic, cosmetic, automotive, medical and other new andinnovative products. The project has come at a time when the focus ondeveloping products out of nanotechnology materials is being prioritized inSouth Africa and globally.The HRTEM project is expected to anchor some of the major nanotechinterventions relating to innovation in medical treatments and medical tools,energy production, water treatment, pollution control, and use of light andenvironmentally-friendly materials. Examples of products developed throughnanotech R&D are gold nano-shells used to fight malignant cancers, affordablehybrid solar cells, quantum “dots” for rapid computing, and nano-scale ironmaterials used to clean up polluted water. 6There is scope for future research collaborations between NMMU’sHRTEM Centre and the overseas R&D staff of potential investors at CoegaIndustrial Development Zone (CIDZ) or other South African industries in areassuch as alternative renewable energy sources and new aluminium products.Development of the HRTEM Centre at NMMU and the positive industrialresponse to the Coega project could result in the attraction of otherinternationally-known researchers to the NMB regionInnoVenton and Local Chemicals IndustryThe NMMU’s Institute for Chemical Technology and the DownstreamChemicals Technology Station (InnoVenton) is upgrading its laboratory andfacilities at a cost of approximately R7.0 million. The university and the industrywill each contribute R3.0 million towards the project (R6.0 million in total), andthe residual R1.0 million will be provided by the Department of Science andTechnology (DST).Companies in the chemical and petroleum industries such as Sasol,PetroSA, and SMEs in the NMB region are the target beneficiaries of the newfacilities at InnoVenton. InnoVenton will have a National Fuels Centre within itsnew structure. The upgrading of the laboratory at InnoVenton will increase the6 Jacob Heller and Christine Peterson, U.S. Federal Nanotech Funding, Nanotech Institute Policy IssuesBrief, Foresight, 2005.103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 56
African Development Economic ConsultantsADECresearch capacities of the technology station beyond the current scopeinvolving product testing and quality reviews.Algal ProjectNMMU has constructed a large demonstration plant for algalbiotechnology where marine algae will be used to sequester carbon dioxide andproduce biofuels and other products. The NMMU has good climactic conditionsfor this project and the right expertise in chemical processing.Requirement for chemical engineering programmesADEC interviews with firms in the NMB chemicals industry revealed aneed for NMMU to expand its academic and research programmes in chemicalengineering. Private companies in the region are currently relying on theUniversity of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN) and other universities outside of theEastern Cape for technical input related to chemical engineering.Automotive Components Technology Station (ACTS)Prof. Danie Hattingh and his team at ACTS are providing services to agrowing portfolio of automotive components suppliers in the NMB region andsurrounding areas. The local SMEs are supplying international automotiveproducers with components such as batteries, window screens, electricalcomponents, paint, and other components.The emerging SMEs are being required to produce products that meet thesafety and regulatory requirements of the automobile industry. Current forms oftechnical assistance to SMEs in the NMB region relates to processimprovement, product testing, quality reviews, and other compliance-relatedservices. Some of these automobile firms are now exporting their product fromNMB and there may be some future R&D scope for ACTS in the localautomotive industry.Centre for Energy Research and Regional Energy RequirementsContinued growth in the industrial base at Coega Industrial DevelopmentZone (CIDZ) and throughout NMB is likely to result in power capacity issues inthe mid-term. Some of the large-scale projects at the CIDZ need a consistentand reliable supply of electricity.Prof. Ernest Van Dyk and his team at NMMU’s Centre of EnergyResearch (CER) have embarked on a number of alternative energy researchprojects. For example, they are assessing the region’s winds that could beharnessed to supply the growing local industrial base. Local industry willwelcome more affordable and consistent supplies of industrial energy, given thenew tariffs structure that Eskom intends to roll out in the next 12 to 36 months.Stiff competition in the provision of electricity to local industry could force Eskomto deepen its own research capacities, further creating R&D scope for localresearchers.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 57
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