CPUT’s Dr Chris Nhlapo will play a key role in research and innovation in the South African mineral sector.

Nhlapo has been appointed by South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, to serve as a member of the board of Mintek.

Mintek is a leading research and innovation organisation that specialises in minerals processing, extractive metallurgy and related areas.

The organisation is also responsible for developing and transferring new technology for the national and international mineral sector.

Nhlapo, who is the Deputy-Vice Chancellor of Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships at CPUT, will serve a three-year term on the board. 

Nhlapo, who is actively involved in the national and international discourse on innovation and technology transfer, will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the board.

Earlier this year Nhlapo was also tasked with developing a new framework for innovation in South Africa, as a member of a national task team set up by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).

NACI was created to advise the South African Minister of Science and Technology on the role and contribution that innovation plays in addressing economic, social, scientific and technology challenges.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News

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CPUT is a trailblazer in research and innovation, so who better to call on for help when developing a new framework for innovation in South Africa.

Deputy-Vice Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo, has been appointed to a national task team that will pen a new framework for innovation in South Africa.

The task team, comprising key role-players in the South African higher education sector, was handpicked by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).

This body was created to advise the South African Minister of Science and Technology on the role and contribution that innovation plays in addressing economic, social, scientific and technology challenges.

Dr Nhlapo says their first task will be to “unpack the concept of innovation.”

According to NACI, innovation consists of three phases. The first is a conception of a new idea, while the second is the conversion of this idea into a product, service or process. The final phase is commercialisation or the successful uptake by users

However, Dr Nhlapo says that innovation is unfortunately often misunderstood, with many people limiting its scope to science and technology. He says innovation cuts across all disciplines, from science and technology right up to business.

“Innovation is not only for monetary gains. There is also social innovation, which benefits the community,” he says.

Dr Nhlapo says the task team will focus their attention on developing a national innovation framework that encompasses all disciplines.

During the next few months, they will also survey the South African innovation terrain between 1994 and 2011 and explore existing successful frameworks.

By: Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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