Technology stations model finds synergy with the Hub's mandate

David Phaho, Tshumisano Trust CEO.

The Tshumisano Trust team located at The Innovation Hub are (front row ltr) Mpho Dibakoane (IT Administrator), Corlette Molefe (HR Manager), David Phaho (Chief Executive Officer), Esther Siluma (Project Administrator), Lucky Nkosi (Office Administrator) and (back row ltr): Vusi Skosana (IAT Coordinator), Thomas Mashamaite (Project Officer), Adrie El-Mohamadi (Technical Coordinator commissioned by GTZ) and Ntsieni Makhado (Project Officer).

Tshumisano Trust - the implementing agency for the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) Technology Station Programme (TSP) - has chosen The Innovation Hub as the new home for its Project Management Unit. It is from here that Tshumisano will continue its quest to strengthen interactions between Universities of Technology (UoTs) and SMMEs.

Tshumisano provides technical and financial support to Technology Stations, which in turn offer technical support in the form of training, services and technology solutions to SMME's. According to Tshumisano Technical Co-ordinator, Adrie El-Mohamadi, Technology Stations are technology transfer 'laboratories' that are hosted by UoTs through the provision of a sound institutional, organisational and legal framework.

Similar to the Hub's purpose of supporting high-tech company formation and growth in the local economy, one of Tshumisano's over-arching goals is to satisfy the technology needs of SMMEs. The Technology Stations provide world-class services to SMMEs through access to the expertise of professors, lecturers, postgraduates and consultants.

Tshumisano has increased the number of Technology Stations from just three in 2001 to currently over a dozen stations across the country. "The stations accommodate a wide range of needs across a number of different economic sectors, depending on the type of industry that is most dominant in that particular geographical area", says El-Mohamadi.

On average, the TSP assists around 600 SMMEs every year, and El-Mohamadi is encouraged by the recognition that Tshumisano is receiving from other quarters within government - with the Trust on course to become a fully fledged Public Entity in the near future. In addition, it has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with development agencies such as SEDA and the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC).

According to El-Mohamadi, their move to The Innovation Hub was motivated by the precinct's physical image and fully serviced, high-tech conference rooms, boardrooms, video-conferencing facilities and security system, combined with its aura of space, energy and forward thinking. "The image just says 'technology'. We felt this would be the perfect address for a programme like ours", she says.

One of Tshumisano's sister programmes within the DST, the AMTS FabLab, is also housed at the Hub, along with a whole host of technology-focused SMMEs. "We could potentially link with any number of the companies here. It opens up a whole new set of possibilities for the programme", says El-Mohamadi.

Currently, however, the priorities are to become a public entity and establish a Technology Station in all the provinces in South Africa. Particularly exciting is the possibility for the stations to grow into centres of excellence and eventually even contribute to the creation of industry clusters. "This country holds so many opportunities for growth, and I really believe that Tshumisano will play a positive role in that", she says.

For more information on Tshumisano, email lucky@tshumisano.co.za, or contact them on +27 12 844 0413.

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