With innovation, research and development critical to the promotion and development of “smart and green” industrialisation in South Africa’s most populous province, the Gauteng provincial government aims to expand the capacity of innovation hubs.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Monday said the National Treasury had approved the provincial government’s request that it be permitted to source private sector funding for the expansion of the Gauteng Innovation Hub, in Tshwane.
Construction was scheduled to start in the next financial year, with the University of Pretoria stepping on board as a key partner.
“The hub has trained over 75 township entrepreneurs through start-up weekends and bootcamps run in conjunction with eKasi Labs Innovation Centres in some of our big townships,” he said.
This year, that number would be increased to at least 100 entrepreneurs in all five development corridors across Gauteng as the hub expanded the number of start-up weekend and bootcamp sessions.