The Local Economic Development Manager of the Vhembe District Municipality, Mr Mukundi Mushaphi says the innovation workshop that took place at the University of Venda today could not have come at a more opportune time, as the municipality has been selected by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to implement innovation-led local economic development.
The workshop was hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with Vhembe District Municipality, University of Venda, and Vhembe Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The purpose of the workshop was to empower local innovators with information on the financial and non-financial support that they can access in order to produce innovations that the department can assist them to commercialise.
It was one of a series of workshops that the department hosts across the country to unearth technologies from underdeveloped rural and township communities, create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation, as well as focused technology development and innovative thinking.
More than 100 innovators and aspirant innovators from Vhembe were workshopped about the support that they can receive from the dtic for their ideas for innovation, development of prototypes, protection of intellectual property and commercialisation of innovation.
”Our municipality has been selected by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to implement innovation led-local economic development, as the programme has been successfully piloted and is now being rolled out across the country. This innovation workshop came at the right time and is in line with our ongoing efforts to place innovation at the heart of local economic development. the dtic innovation support programmes will boost our efforts as we continue to implement mechanisms to harness innovation for economic development. Our innovators will definitely appreciate financial and non-financial support from the department. They need it. We need it. It will add impetus to our efforts,” said Mushaphi.
“Vhembe has a lot of potential innovators who are ready to flourish and those who have flourished, including the late engineer, inventor, and Professor Mulalo Doyoyo and the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Tshilidzi Marwala,” added Mushaphi.
Mushaphi emphasised strong commitment towards invention in the region of Vhembe and stressed the importance of collaborations that will fully unearth the innovation potential in the municipality.
“Our municipality is still faced with poverty, unemployment, inequality and underdevelopment. If the local entrepreneurs are supported unemployment will be reduced,” stressed Mushaphi.
Speaking at the same event, the Acting Chief Director of Operations in the Investment and Spatial Industrial Development branch of the dtic, Ms Takalani Ramuthaga, said the department supports a wide range of sectors of the economy in various parts of the country.
“the dtic aims to broaden the reach of its support incentives, especially in areas such as Vhembe, where communities are actively working to improve their lives. the dtic has brought information on instruments for innovation and manufacturing support, and engaged local innovators and entrepreneurs such as the avocado oil factory recently opened in Dovheni,” explained Ramuthaga.
She also noted the importance of partnerships, describing them as necessary for unlocking innovation, developing industrial capacity, and realising inclusive economic growth.
“Your innovations have a direct link to economic growth and development. We need to engage further so that we can work together to stimulate local economic activity and growth in your communities,” she stressed.
From left: The Councillor at Vhembe District Municipality Advocate Anderson Mudunungu, Chief Mtutulagole Nyamande of Matangari village and the Acting Chief Director of Operations in the Investment and Spatial Industrial Development branch of the dtic, Ms Takalani Ramuthaga during a walkabout viewing products from entrepreneurs from Vhembe.
The Acting Chief Director of Operations in the Investment and Spatial Industrial Development branch of the dtic, Ms Takalani Ramuthaga.
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
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Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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