- In order to fulfil its mandate, the CSIR has announced the establishment of a commercial enterprise.
- CSIR C3 will serve as a means to catalyse more innovation at a greater pace in South Africa.
- The CSIR has already raised R100 million as an initial investment.
In a bid to profit from its technologies and intellectual property, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched a commercial enterprise in CSIR C3.
The CSIR says that the creation of this commercial entity will help it fulfill its mandate to develop innovations that contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of South African citizens. In addition, the enterprise seeks to catalyse the reindustrialisation of South Africa through the establishment of new tech-based industries.
“The CSIR has sustained a track record of contributing to industrial development through the development of technologies that improve the performance and competitiveness of existing industrial products, processes and services,” CSIR board chairperson Vuyani Jarana told SA News.
The CSIR has already raised R100 million as an initial investment. In addition, the entity showed off 18 technologies in the fields of health, logistics and Earth observation among others to potential investors. These include a tool that forecasts the motion of moored ships, early detection of kidney injury and a gunshot detection camera.
While some of the solutions are ready to be sold, some still require funding in order to be commercialised.
CSIR C3 will also serve as an incubator for startups which is incredibly intriguing and we’re curious to see what products and solutions are born from this initiative.
“Through this initiative, we will collaborate with various partners to create innovation-based companies, to support the reindustrialisation of our economy,” CSIR’s chief executive officer, Dr Thulani Dlamini said in a statement.
We are curious as to how the CSIR will change and, more importantly, how having a commercial entity will change access to innovations and research for the public good.
[Image – Ben Rosett on Unsplash]
