This month's highlights
The Hub team
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Neville Comins
Business Development & Marketing
Victor Matooane
Market Support and Operations
Thibi Matshele
Enterprise Support and Networking
Martin Yuill
Incubation
Jill Sawers
Empowerment Initiatives
Tsietsi Maleho
Chief Information Officer
Modiba Ramohlale
Tel: +27 12 349 0376 / 70
Fax: +27 12 349 0322
Physical Address: Bld 46, CSIR site, Meiring Naude Rd, Lynnwood, Pretoria, South Africa
Postal Address: PostNet Suite 213, Private Bag X844, Silverton 0127,
Pretoria, South Africa
Website: www.theinnovationhub.com
Directors:
NL Moikangoa (Chairman), O Fuchs,
J Hattingh, AJ Jordaan,
Prof NC Maganyi, P Maharaj,
Prof JAG Malherbe, M Mokoena, M Petje
The Innovation Hub is a strategic partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government's Blue IQ initiative, and SERA, the Southern Education and Research Alliance, a partnership between the CSIR and the University of Pretoria
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The Hub progress sheet
The establishment of The Innovation Hub is based on extensive international benchmarking and takes the local economic, social and environmental context into account. The full conceptualisation of the Hub is progressing towards the detailed design and implementation stage. Progress so far includes:
- A Master Plan for the infrastructure development is nearing completion
- The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, C, Environment and Land. A Record of Decision in respect of the environmental application was received during June 2002
- As critical inputs into the EIA and Town Planning submissions, a series of technical studies have been completed and handed in to the relevant authorities including traffic, bulk services, preliminary geotechnical reports and the urban design rationale
- A high-tech pilot Business Incubator is operating at the Hub's temporary premises in Pretoria with 6 early stage companies
- Entrepreneur/Innovator development programmes have been launched, including the CoachLab™ concept where a pilot ITCoachLab is operating with students working on industry projects under expert mentorship by Epi-Use [Pty] Ltd, with expansion being evaluated
- Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) initiatives are being developed to support previously disadvantaged people
- A network of professional service suppliers to provide enterprise support is being established
- The Hub is actively involved in Gauteng ICT cluster
- Advanced discussions with prospective anchor tenants are taking place
- Key personnel have been appointed in The Innovation Hub Management Company to manage the Hub's Business Development and Marketing, Marketing Support and Operations, Enterprise Support and Networking, Incubation, Special Initiatives programmes, as well as a Chief Information Officer portfolio.
The proposed site for the Hub has a developable area of approximately 30 ha and an ultimate occupiable capacity of 121 000 m2. The remaining area, including a natural hillside will be kept pristine. The overall development, when completed, will represent a total accumulated investment of R1,2 billion based on current estimates.
The procurement process for the development of the infrastructure will start with a Request for Information (RFI) process and a call for tenders for the critical work packages.
The first phase of the development will consist of:
- Transport and access infrastructure, including a bridge over the N1 freeway and internal roads
- Bulk services provision (electricity, water, sewage)
- Site landscaping and developments
- Core buildings (13 000 m2 of occupiable space) including a main building to house the precinct management, multi-tenant buildings, an activities center, shared and social facilities and an Incubator building.
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