President Ramaphosa to address the Presidential Plenary on Science, Technology and Innovation

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, deliver an address at the inaugural Presidential Plenary on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to be held in Pretoria.

The STI Plenary will bring together leaders in government, industry, academia and civil society, to discuss progress of the National System of Innovation (NSI) and challenges in this sector, and will explore ways for STI and skills development to impact positively on the South African economy.

In November 2022, Cabinet adopted the STI Decadal Plan to guide the first 10 years of implementing the 2019 White Paper on STI.

The White Paper introduced the concept of an Interministerial Committee (IMC) on STI and a Presidential STI Plenary as instruments to enhance STI policy coherence, as well as programme and budget coordination in the South African national system of innovation. 

In this regard, the plenary will allow all role players to reflect collaboratively on progress with STI initiatives, and jointly commit resources for recommended STI initiatives.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee on STI established in March 2021 is led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and comprises Ministers of STI-intensive government departments.

The President will also visit an exhibition of locally produced, market-ready innovations in areas such as space science, health and energy.

Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Time: 10h00 (media to arrive at 09h00)
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria

Media accreditation details:
Members of media should complete the Accreditation Template and send back to Thabang Setlhare, Department of Science and Innovation, at 072 659 9690 or Thabang.Setlhare@dst.gov.za by Thursday, 07 December 2023 at 16h00. No late submission will be accepted.

Media enquiries: Spokesperson to the President, Vincent Mangwenya on media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria