European Commission call for proposals in research, technological development and demonstration activities

Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 8 June, 2011 at 7:32 pm {no comments}

Picture on Flickr by tiseb, CC-BY

The call for proposals is out for the theme for research and development under the specific programme “Cooperation” implementing the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities.

According to the call for submissions:

This Work Programme defines the priorities for calls for proposals that will result in projects to be launched in the period 2011-12. These projects will start having impacts on markets in 5-10 years, on average.

The document goes on to say that by then, it is expected that the global ICT infrastructure and market structures will likely to have changed considerably.   Thus the research challenges in this Work Programme focus on high-risk ICT collaborative research forming part of a medium to long-term agenda.

(more…)

Enter Now for the 2011 Africa SMME Awards

Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 13 May, 2011 at 12:33 pm {no comments}

Your small, medium or micro enterprise (SMME) may be recognised as the Africa SMME of the Year.

If your business has grown in a responsible and sustainable manner over the last few years and is furthermore contributing to the African and local economy, we feel you need recognition.

Businesses from all sectors may compete for these awards and the ultimate honour will be to achieve the overall award for the SMME of the Year.

The 2011 Africa SMME Awards are presented by Africagrowth Institute, a private company based in Cape Town, which focuses on growth opportunities in Africa and also houses the South African Graduate National Service Program.

Entry Criteria

  • Employ less than the full time equivalent of 200 persons and must have a turnover ranging between R40 000 and R10 million per annum;
  • Must be registered in Africa;
  • Must be in active operation for at least two years;
  • Be resident in Africa;
  • Not be a branch of another business.

The closing date for entries is the 30 June 2011.  Winners will take the spotlight at a gala awards evening in South Africa on the 13th of October 2011.

(more…)

SAFIPA-supported projects nominated for NSTF Awards

Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 14 March, 2011 at 2:33 pm {no comments}

SAFIPA projects are being recognised by the National Science and Technology Forum by being included as nominations for the 2010/11 awards.

This is an honour both for SAFIPA, as supporters of these projects, as well as the projects themselves who work tirelessly to bring about change for South African communities. The SAFIPA team, especially Thiru Naidoo-Swettenham who is the South African Programme Coordinator, were responsible for compiling their project partners’ applications for the NSTF Awards nomation process.

SAFIPA-supported projects have been shortlisted in two categories, namely “Research leading to Innovation by Teams or Individuals through Organisations” and “Communication for Outreach and Creating Awareness of Science, Engineering, Technology or Innovation”.

In the first category, the projects nominated are the MoMaths Reasearch team, which includes Nokia, Kelello Consulting and Neil Butcher and Associates; the Naledi 3d project which is run by Dave Lockwood’s Naledi3d Factory (Pty) Ltd based in Pretoria, and WhereismyTransport? which is run by Devin de Vries and his Cape Town-based team. In the second category Ron Byers’ Young Engineers and Scientists of Africa (YESA) project has been nominated as well as second nomination for Dave Lockwood’s Naledi3d Factory.

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards are prestigious awards that seek to:

recognise, acknowledge and promote the wealth of excellence in the South African Research and Development (R&D) community across all sectors, levels, genders and race groups.

The NSTF is a multi-stakeholder forum within the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation disciplines, and the awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the individuals and teams who are responsible for contributing to the development and growth of these disciplines in South Africa.
(more…)

SAFIPA supports IST Africa 2010

Filed under Community news by Daniela White on 24 November, 2010 at 12:00 am {2 comments}

Hosted by the Government of South Africa through the Department of Science and Technology and Supported by the European Commission, IST-Africa 2010 will take place in Durban, 19 – 21 May 2010.

Part of the IST-Africa Initiative, which is supported by the European Commission under the ICT Theme of Framework Programme 7 (FP7), IST-Africa 2010 is the fifth in an Annual Conference Series which brings together senior representatives from leading commercial, government & research organisations across Africa and from Europe, to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice and discussing policy related issues.

IST-Africa 2010 is also supported by the South Africa – Finland Knowledge Partnership on ICT project (SAFIPA) and Technically Co-Sponsored by the IEEE South Africa Computer Chapter and the Computer Society of South Africa.

IST-Africa 2010 Focus

IST-Africa 2010 will focus on the Role of ICT for Africa’s Development and specifically on Applied ICT research topics addressing major societal and economic challenges, which is part of the European Commission’s Information Communications Technologies (ICT) Theme of FP7. The Conference Programme combines strategic keynote presentations, technical and policy papers, case studies, workshops, an exhibition and social activities.

IST-Africa directly supports the goals of the Africa-EU Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space, the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) and the Consolidated Plan of Action for the African Regional Action Plan on the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE).

In the context of focusing on the Role of ICT for Africa’s Development, the Opening Plenary on Wednesday 19 May will feature a high level dialogue on Implementation of the Africa-EU Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space. The Closing Plenary on Friday 21 May will focus on Initiatives Supporting Development of Regional S&T. (more…)

Presentations available from ICT 2010 Networking Session & Workshop at eChallenges e2010

Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 10 November, 2010 at 10:23 pm {no comments}

During September and October, IST-Africa has promoted African research capacity at ICT 2010 in Brussels and eChallenges e2010 in Warsaw.

During ICT 2010, the “Supporting Africa-EU Research Collaboration” demonstration stand in the International Village showcased the IST-Africa Initiative, Africa4All Parliamentary Initiative, eI-Africa and EuroAfrica-ICT. This The Networking Session focused on “8th Africa-EU Strategic Partnership“  on Wednesday 29 September ’10 was very well attended. The Programme commenced with a panel discussion, followed by short presentations from IST-Africa Initiative, Africa4All Parliamentary Initiative, ESASTAP, eI-Africa and EuroAfrica-ICT, NET4DC, SpaceBel, HP Catalyst Grant Initiative, TRINET2, EPIKH-4-Africa. These presentations can be downloaded from http://www.ist-africa.org/home/default.asp?page=relevents

The IST-Africa Consortium presented research and ICT capacity from Burundi, Egypt, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda during the eChallenges e2010 Conference in Warsaw on 27 October. This was complimented by a dissemination stand in the Exhibition. These presentations can be downloaded from http://www.ist-africa.org/home/default.asp?page=relevents

IST-Africa is compiling a repository of ICT and S&T Policies in Africa. Policy documents from Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda are published at http://www.ist-africa.org/home/default.asp?page=ictpolicies

If you would like to provide the policy documents for your country to be added to this repository, please contact secretariat@IST-Africa.org
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The SAFIPA Newsletter

The final SAFIPA Newsletter, Spring 2011

This is the final edition of the SAFIPA newsletter. The month of November 2011, marks the conclusion of this dynamic initiative.



This newsletter pays tribute to the SAFIPA programme in the form of commentary and insights gathered during the very successful SAFIPA 2011 Conference. Project partners from the MFA, DST and CSIR Meraka Insitute applaud the programme. And SAFIPA supported projects have a final opportunity to showcase their innovations and processes.



[Download the PDF version ]



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A prototype is born: MoveeCom™ Mobile communication system

The SAFIPA PMO recently had a visit from Matsebe Phasha and Nakampe Shai who have developed the MoveeCom™ Mobile communication system. This is a fully portable communications system that has been designed specifically for deep rural areas and under-serviced urban areas.

The MoveeCom™ Mobile communication system is an innovation communication unit concept founded by social entrepreneurs [...]

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