The Italian government officially announced the establishment of the third component of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), located in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday, at a press briefing in Italy.

There are currently only two ICGEB components in the world in laboratories in Trieste, Italy, and in New Delhi, India.

South Africa’s successful bid to host a third component will now see the establishment of the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM) at the University of Cape Town.

“The government of South Africa, through its Department of Science and Technology, has already set aside approximately 4-million Euros towards the start-up costs of the component. This is in line with the increases in public funding towards the establishment of high-tech research infrastructure in South Africa which is set to provide a fertile training ground for the creation of world-class African scientists and researchers,” said South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom.

The ICGEB places major emphasis on health related research and on projects towards the sustainable application of biotechnology in agriculture.

The main focus is currently on HIV/Aids, hepatitis, rotavirus, human papilloma virus, malaria, tuberculosis and more recently, dongue.

The Centre’s research is expected to help scientists across the globe determine the mechanisms relating to infections and the insurgence of diseases at the molecular level.

Establishing the third component at the IIDMM will boost South Africa’s existing efforts to combat the most serious threats to health and overall prosperity in the region, including infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids, TB and non-communicable diseases, as well as locally prevalent cancers and genetic disorders, a statement said.

“This will boost South Africa's profile as the preferred destination for global science and technology initiatives and will assist in making South Africa a major international biotechnology hub. This provides a unique opportunity for finding further innovative solutions for some of the continent’s most pressing health and agricultural challenges,” Minister Hanekom said.

The benefits accruing to the country as a result of hosting the component range from human capital development; the development of state-of- the art research facilities in the field of biotechnology; to the enhanced facilitation of collaboration with regional and international scientists.