Significant achievements at Africa's first Science Park

2005 has been a fantastic year for The Innovation Hub.

Not only did we open our doors for business at our new custom-built precinct at the beginning of January, we have also notched up a number of significant achievements. Chief among these is that the Hub is ending the year with what the Financial Mail calls "an energy that is defying the sceptics".

The Innovation Hub team, ltr (back row) Jeanette Morwane, Tsietsi Maleho, Nkhulu Maboya, Lindsay Prescott, Mariette Smit and Martin Yuill, and ltr (front row)Jill Sawers, Anita Masuku, Neville Comins, Gopolang Setumo and Adri Dreyer. Absent: Annie Lopes and Annah Manaiwa.

Tenant uptake at our facilities has exceeded all expectations. Our 8 000 m² Enterprise Building is 95% full, while our almost-full maxum business incubator is operating at a success rate of 79%, having generated growth of 360% among its start-up clients since inception in 2000. Our unique CoachLab skills development programme is successfully linking business and postgraduate students, and the Hub's INNOV8 community - South Africa's premier "intelligent community" network - has grown to more than 4 500 members locally and from abroad.

In addition to being Africa's first internationally accredited Science Park, the Hub has successfully created South Africa's leading cluster of high-tech, knowledge-intensive businesses. This success has been recognised globally, with the Hub winning the bid to host the International Association of Science Parks global conference for the first time in Africa in 2008.

Since Sappi - the first owner-builder and the Hub's anchor tenant - took occupancy of its Technology Centre in January, 50 tenant companies have joined the Hub in rental accommodation. Eleven further buildings, totalling 55 000 m², are currently under negotiation, with new ground expected to be broken early in 2006. The Hub's relationship with neighbouring universities and research institutions is also continuing to grow steadily.

Globally, Science Parks have proven their ability to stimulate innovation as a fundamental source of economic growth and competitiveness. Locally, the Hub is stimulating the next wave of knowledge-intensive companies, and helping South Africa embrace this future.

Thank you for your continued interest in The Innovation Hub, as well as for your ongoing support in helping us to achieve our objectives.

We wish you a festive yearend, relax, recharge and enjoy time with family and loved ones!

Season's greetings! [click to view our ecard]

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