The first soil is turned at The Innovation Hub by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. Looking on are Hub CEO Dr Neville Comins (left) and Blue IQ CEO Pradeep Maharaj and Acting MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Trevor Fowler (right).

Dr Neville Comins, CEO of The Innovation Hub, welcoming dignitaries and guests to the soil turning event at the Hub site.

Mr Bertus van der Merwe of Sappi indicated to those gathered at the soil turning event for The Innovation Hub that Sappi has taken an in principle decision to build its new Technology Centre and Training Academy on The Innovation Hub, in effect making it the first anchor tenant on the site.

Celebratory day of firsts for the Hub

The recent start of actual construction on The Innovation Hub site in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria was celebrated with a formal sod-turning event on 13 October this year. The first soil turned on the site by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa is seen as another marker in the Gauteng Provincial Government's Blue IQ initiative's programme to make the province a globally competitive knowledge economy.

The event coincided with the announcement by Sappi Limited, the world's leading producer of coated fine paper, that it will build its new Technology Centre and Training Academy at the Hub as its first anchor tenant.

CEO Dr Neville Comins says that the Hub's design and layout are based on the experience of similar developments internationally (the Hub is a member of the International Association of Science Parks), and local and international experts have reviewed the plans for the project at various stages of its development.

Tenants that locate to the Hub are offered a number of occupancy options, from building their own freehold buildings on the site to renting space in custom-built buildings or in multi-tenant facilities.

According to Comins, the focus of the Hub's construction is that of convergence. "We are not focusing on one discipline, such at IT, only. In this era of technological convergence, cross-disciplinary interaction between people and companies are increasingly important for companies to remain globally competitive and we want to promote that at the Hub," he says.

The Hub will be a science park with specific entry requirements for companies active in the biosciences and biotechnology, electronics, and information and communications technology sectors, as well as in the advanced manufacturing sectors such as automotive, defence and defence spin-offs.

The expectation is that the Hub will act as a catalyst to improve South African productivity and technology. Another important function will be to promote black economic empowerment by acting as an incubator for innovative black start-up companies.

For further information about tenancy and investment opportunities at the Hub,
click here.

[Back to top]

Next