Programme participants included ltr Mr Mutle Mogwase, Mr Paul Mashatile, Mr Mbhazima Shilowa, Dr Neville Comins, Mr Derek Hanekom and Ms Nomhle Canca. Mr Sten Gunnar Johansson hands over a tribute from the IASP to Dr Neville Comins. In congratulatory mood after the unveiling the plaque, Dr Comins (foreground) looking on as Premier Shilowa and Blue IQ CEO Nomhle Canca shake hands. Smiles all around as Premier Shilowa receives a pair of Hub branded red socks. Music by the University of Pretoria String Quartet added to the ambience of the event.

The Innovation Hub officially opens doors

"I dedicate The Innovation Hub as a tribute to the initiative and vision of the [Gauteng] Premier and his team, to Blue IQ for their commitment to drive these projects and provide the project teams with the space to deliver, my own team for their untiring enthusiasm and skill, and our project managers, professional team and contractors who have all contributed so much to all elements of the park. Thanks too, go to my mentors at the International Association of Science Parks and many other colleagues who were always willing to share their experience with us to great benefit."

These were the words of CEO Dr Neville Comins at the official opening of Africa's first internationally accredited Science Park at its new premises early in April this year. The celebratory event was attended by dignitaries from the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Department of Science and Technology and senior representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as clients, tenants, members of the Hub's INNOV8 community and some of South Africa's world-renowned innovators who have helped to position South Africa as a player in the global arena of science and technology.

During the week of the opening event, the Hub was featured in a special report in Business Report (see media clippings), made possible by the participation of a number of tenants, contractors and other interested parties. The media feature has generated interest and enquiries from as far afield as Cape Town. In fact, tenant interest and uptake is exceeding expectations, and indication that businesses are responding positively to the Hub's offerings.

In addition to Dr Comins, participants in the event programme included Guateng Premier, Mr Mbhazima Shilowa, Deputy Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Derek Hanekom, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Paul Mashatile, Mr Sten Gunnar Johansson, a board member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and Blue IQ Board Chairman Mr Mutle Mogase and CEO Ms Nomhle Canca.

In his keynote address, Shilowa emphasised the importance of the Hub in stimulating innovation, indicating that "boosting technological innovation in the high-tech and knowledge-intensive sector, which The Innovation Hub is designed to achieve, will be a crucial in achieving this global competitiveness and providing a specialized home for both local and international business."

From a national perspective, Hanekom confirmed that the Department of Science and Technology sees The Innovation Hub as a key partner in the implementation of the National R&D Strategy. "The Innovation Hub is seeking, amongst other things, to establish effective working relationships with [the country's] instruments [of innovation] to ensure complimentarity and synergy in the efforts towards the creation of successful enterprises through innovation."

In addition to having created an environment that stimulates innovation, the Hub's networking activities through its INNOV8 community, now over 3 000 members, has been integral to creating a broad based high-tech network in the region.

The Hub's focus on its empowerment targets was acknowledged by Mashatile, saying that the promotion of broad based BEE, SMME development and the creation of opportunities for those who were previously marginalised are among Gauteng's major strategic objectives. "We are encouraged by the fact that in the development of the Hub, over 40% of infrastructure spend was done through BEE companies [and that] as part of the activities that will be undertaken at the Hub, special programmes have been started to facilitate the involvement of knowledge workers from the historically disadvantaged communities."

This includes support by the maxum Business Incubator to entrepreneurs and start-up companies and by the CoachLab™ leadership programme to skills development amongst post-graduate students. Earlier this year the Hub's newly launched Smart City Project, in partnership with the Youth Development Trust, commenced a mentorship programme for unemployed graduates to help them establish a business that will assist Tshwane Metro in improving its services to residents.

And internationally, in the science park community, the Hub has also made an impact. Johansson commended the fact that "The Innovation Hub has, during a very short time, become a well respected member of the global community of Science Parks and in the network of IASP." The election of Hub CEO Dr Neville Comins onto the international board of the IASP in 2003 has enhanced the levels of interaction with leading science parks world-wide.

The development of The Innovation Hub has created the opportunity for public and private sector partnerships that will stimulate growth in the knowledge-intensive sectors and increase its contribution to the economy.

"This is a challenge in which we can all participate. We look forward to the growing participation of the broader business community, our universities and research institutions, and Government at national, provincial and local levels in joint initiatives to put South Africa on the knowledge economy map - our quest has just begun," concluded Comins.

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