Cooperation opportunities with RETECZA – South Africa’s PPP Resource-Driven Technology Concept Centre
22 September 2009 - 22 September 2009
Austria
RETECZA is a unique academia-industry-public partnership initiative aimed at harnessing South Africa’s research and innovation capacities to fight poverty and to contribute to sustainable development, especially in areas such as renewable energy with a strong focus on wind, hydrogen in transportation, green building and construction technologies as well as water supply initiatives. RETECZA is therefore an initiative with much in common with the current FP7 Public Private Partnership activity.
South African partners in RETECZA, which receives funding from the Department of Science and Technology, include the Tshwane University of Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Africa’s largest public funded R&D organisation. Major international partners such as the Next Generation Vehicles Consortium, consisting of the world’s largest automakers, the George Institute of Technology in the United States, and major European R&D actors such as the Volvo Technology Concept Centre and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, also play an active part.
The first phase of RETECZA is focused on two strategic concepts, namely the development of a novel next generation car for South Africa that is not only fuel-efficient, results in low carbon footprint, and adaptable, but also robust for developing country roads, and secondly the development of an integrated autonomous village that is constructed with sustainable next generation materials, saves power by utilizing novel renewable energy technologies, saves water by retaining rainwater through underground dams and artificial water tables, treats wastes using innovative living machines, and the like. Further details on these initiatives and the cooperation opportunities with Europe will be presented at the seminar.
The half-day seminar will take place on Tuesday 22 September 2009. The event will take place at the South African Mission to the EU in Brussels, Rue Montoyer 17-19, Brussels 1000 (Metro: Trone.) Should you be interested in attending please confirm your participation with Ms Francoise Dassy at francoise.dassy@belgacom.net. The seminar agenda is appended below.
Presenting RETECZA – South Africa’s Resource-Driven Technology Concept Centre
Seminar in Brussels: Tuesday 22 September 2009
RETECZA is a unique academia-industry-public partnership initiative aimed at harnessing South Africa’s research and innovation capacities to fight poverty and contribute to sustainable development.
Agenda
08:30 Registration
09:00 Opening remarks
Daan du Toit, South Africa’s Senior Science and Technology Representative to the EU
09:10 The policy context: Science and technology critical instruments for growth and development in South Africa
Velaphi Msimang, Chief Director, South African Department of Science and Technology
09:30 Overview of the RETECZA initiative
Prof Mulalo Doyoyo, Georgia Institute of Technology
09:45 Questions and Discussion
10:00 Break
10:15 Presentation of RETECZA renewable energy initiatives
- Low cost energy production through the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine;
- Hydrogen Electrolyser for Domestic and Industrial usage
- Integrated renewable energy solution for sustainable small towns
11:00 Presentation of RETECZA hydrogen in transportation initiatives
- Hydrogen bike to demonstrate hydrogen in transportation
11.30 Presentation of RETECZA green building and construction technology initiatives
- Innovative technology solutions for low-carbon buildings and houses
- Cement-less construction materials using waste materials
12.00 Presentation of RETECZA water supply initiatives
- Water purification with diamond based electrochemical oxidation
12:15 Overview of EU cooperation instruments relevant to RETECZA
12:30 Discussion on new partnership opportunities
Identifying RETECZA research and innovation priorities for mutually beneficial South Africa-EU cooperation
13:00 Conclusions and Networking Lunch
South African partners in RETECZA, which receives funding from the Department of Science and Technology, include the Tshwane University of Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Africa’s largest public funded R&D organisation. Major international partners such as the Next Generation Vehicles Consortium, consisting of the world’s largest automakers, the George Institute of Technology in the United States, and major European R&D actors such as the Volvo Technology Concept Centre and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, also play an active part.
The first phase of RETECZA is focused on two strategic concepts, namely the development of a novel next generation car for South Africa that is not only fuel-efficient, results in low carbon footprint, and adaptable, but also robust for developing country roads, and secondly the development of an integrated autonomous village that is constructed with sustainable next generation materials, saves power by utilizing novel renewable energy technologies, saves water by retaining rainwater through underground dams and artificial water tables, treats wastes using innovative living machines, and the like. Further details on these initiatives and the cooperation opportunities with Europe will be presented at the seminar.
The half-day seminar will take place on Tuesday 22 September 2009. The event will take place at the South African Mission to the EU in Brussels, Rue Montoyer 17-19, Brussels 1000 (Metro: Trone.) Should you be interested in attending please confirm your participation with Ms Francoise Dassy at francoise.dassy@belgacom.net. The seminar agenda is appended below.
Presenting RETECZA – South Africa’s Resource-Driven Technology Concept Centre
Seminar in Brussels: Tuesday 22 September 2009
RETECZA is a unique academia-industry-public partnership initiative aimed at harnessing South Africa’s research and innovation capacities to fight poverty and contribute to sustainable development.
Agenda
08:30 Registration
09:00 Opening remarks
Daan du Toit, South Africa’s Senior Science and Technology Representative to the EU
09:10 The policy context: Science and technology critical instruments for growth and development in South Africa
Velaphi Msimang, Chief Director, South African Department of Science and Technology
09:30 Overview of the RETECZA initiative
Prof Mulalo Doyoyo, Georgia Institute of Technology
09:45 Questions and Discussion
10:00 Break
10:15 Presentation of RETECZA renewable energy initiatives
- Low cost energy production through the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine;
- Hydrogen Electrolyser for Domestic and Industrial usage
- Integrated renewable energy solution for sustainable small towns
11:00 Presentation of RETECZA hydrogen in transportation initiatives
- Hydrogen bike to demonstrate hydrogen in transportation
11.30 Presentation of RETECZA green building and construction technology initiatives
- Innovative technology solutions for low-carbon buildings and houses
- Cement-less construction materials using waste materials
12.00 Presentation of RETECZA water supply initiatives
- Water purification with diamond based electrochemical oxidation
12:15 Overview of EU cooperation instruments relevant to RETECZA
12:30 Discussion on new partnership opportunities
Identifying RETECZA research and innovation priorities for mutually beneficial South Africa-EU cooperation
13:00 Conclusions and Networking Lunch