In addition to exhibiting, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, has opted to participate in the corporate White Paper presentation at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba to introduce the audience to TIA, its products and its supported projects.

TIA group executive for industrial sectors Pontsho Maruping says the agency aims to generate increased awareness of its niche technology development support service offerings.

“These offerings are designed to enable and support technology development across all sectors of the economy to achieve socioeconomic benefits for South Africa, thereby enhancing its global competitiveness.

“This entails supporting the development and commercialisation of research outputs from higher education institutions, science councils, public entities, private research institutions and private individuals to make these outputs available to the market,” she says.

Maruping says TIA will showcase its financial and non-financial products, examples of successful supported projects and its sector focus.

“The corporate White Paper presentation will detail the role TIA is playing in bridging the innovation gap across all sectors of South Africa’s economy.

“It will present highlights of the agency’s achievements, such as optimising real-time mineral processing, easing the burden of disease, opening new market opportunities in citrus production and supporting micro-, small and medium-size enterprises,” she states.

Maruping also notes that there are some technologies in the pipeline that are being considered by the agency’s mining programme.

“These include respirable particulate matter exposure detection technology, energy efficient water treatment technology with zero effluent potential and production of valuable chemicals from mineral waste dumps.

“These are [relevant to] the challenges facing the African mining industry,” she says.

TIA GM for mining and minerals Matlou Mabokano adds that the main challenges can be traced back to continued underinvestment in dealing with local challenges.

“These challenges include developing appropriate extraction, mineral upgrading and value addition technologies in tandem with the requisite skills.

“Addressing these challenges will enable South Africa to remain a globally attractive, competitive and preferred investment destination in the resources sector,” he says.