Technology localisation to boost competitiveness of SA companies
8 August 2012
News
Information from CSIR
The recently established Technology Localisation Implementation Unit (TLIU) – hosted by the CSIR on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) – has set itself ambitious goals. Some 75 companies stand to benefit through its interventions on localisation over the next three years.
As a national programme, the DST’s vision for the TLIU is to deliver technology to South African companies to make them competent and competitive service providers.
Ashley Bhugwandin, who heads up the unit, explains, “We hope to increase the local content of the technology inputs in imported systems. Through localisation, local technology development and enhanced component manufacturing will bolster industrial growth and job creation. Ultimately, this programme will support economic development.”
Ashley Bhugwandin.
Bhugwandin’s experience will stand him in good stead. He worked at provincial level with the KwaZulu-Natal Tooling Initiative and the SPX (Supplier Partner Exchange) programme of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
Immediate beneficiaries of technology localisation are South Africa’s state-owned companies (SOCs) and private companies. By assisting local companies to supply technology, materials and equipment to SOCs and private companies, the TLIU will help to reduce dependence on overseas services and suppliers, while providing sustainable work opportunities and skills enhancement.
The initial focus of the TLIU is on Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga to deliver Technology Assistance Packages (TAPs) to benchmarked companies and to implement ‘customised’ TAPs to companies requiring benchmarking.
It will enter into partnerships to source service providers for these packages and through working with UNIDO and the DST, will explore opportunities with SOCs and original equipment manufacturing for localisation.
Bhugwandin concludes, “Our plan is to assist in the Northern Cape with the localisation of technology used in the MeerKAT astronomy project, currently the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere. The awarding of the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope project to South Africa has upped the ante for us as we believe we have a valuable role to play to boost local input to the project.”
For more information contact Ashley Bhugwandin, CSIR, +27 (0)12 841 2911, [email protected], www.csir.co.za
Further reading:
Hitachi reinvents asset management solution
News
Hitachi Energy, in collaboration with Microsoft, is accelerating the digital transformation of essential infrastructure - from electricity networks and transportation corridors to heavy industrial operations - by reinventing how critical assets are managed and maintained.
Read more...
Mycronic releases mixed Q4 results
News
Mycronic reported mixed Q4 results for the year ended January to December 2025, while delivering record full year order intake and net sales.
Read more...
AGOA: Businesses should diversify or face significant exposure
News
Cross-border payments platform Verto has called on South African and African businesses to accelerate their transition toward a “post-AGOA” trade strategy following President Donald Trump’s signing of a one-year extension to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Read more...
European components distribution growing
News
European electronic components distribution returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to newly released figures from DMASS Europe.
Read more...
Silicon Labs reports strong growth
News
Silicon Labs has reported robust financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, with significant YoY revenue gains and shifting market dynamics.
Read more...
Siemens acquires Canopus AI
ASIC Design Services
News
The acquisition extends Siemens’ comprehensive EDA software portfolio with computational metrology and inspection to help chipmakers solve critical technical challenges in semiconductor manufacturing.
Read more...
Micron breaks ground on new wafer fabs
News
Micron Technology has advanced two major semiconductor manufacturing initiatives that together reflect the company’s strategic response to sustained global demand for memory solutions.
Read more...
Texas Instruments announces planned acquisition of Silicon Labs
News
Texas Instruments Incorporated and Silicon Laboratories recently announced a definitive agreement under which Texas Instruments will acquire Silicon Labs, combining two leaders in semiconductor technology.
Read more...
AI-fueled supercycle doubles memory market revenue
News
The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence is set to propel both the memory and wafer foundry sectors to unprecedented revenue levels by 2026, according to TrendForce.
Read more...
Research agreement for EUV tech
News
Gelest, Inc., a Mitsubishi Chemical Group company, recently announced a research agreement with IBM to test Gelest precursor materials for dry resist EUV lithography.
Read more...
printer friendly version