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Cabinet Colleagues,
Ambassador Achramchuk of the Republic of Belarus,
Professor Roy Marcus Chairperson of the Technology Top 100 Programme,
Sponsors and judges in the Technology Top 100 Programme,
Leaders in technology from across South Africa,
Ladies and gentlemen.

It is never dull hosting the annual Technology Top 100 awards. We, who have experienced these events, always look forward to Technology Top 100 because we find ourselves in the midst of people and organisations with a common passion and commitment to the future of South Africa and the region. Without doubt this community provides us with much to reflect on, celebrate and expand to the broader private sector, state owned enterprises, research councils and academia.

There are a number of global scorecards that endeavour to measure the competitiveness and effectiveness of nations in the global economy. Among these are the annual Global Competitiveness Report, and the competitor, the World Competitiveness Report. I am glad that these seem to get less publicity than they did in the past. Work undertaken by NACI in analysing innovation and competitiveness has shown that the seesaw scores of countries like South Africa are based on the perception judgement questions and not on reliable benchmarked data. Indeed a NACI study tour to these organisations confirmed our view that so-called scorecards are really marketing instruments for their custodian institutions.

You will be pleased to know that the Department of Science and Technology is completing the R&D survey, and when we publish it in February, we will be able to make evidence-based judgements on the health of our system. We also applaud the work of the University of Pretoria on firm based innovation, which will also be launched in the very near future. These carefully designed and internationally credible methods should receive much more detailed attention from yourselves in planning your innovation, research and development trajectories.

On average you will find that your local and international competitors are spending more on innovation and research, have smarter partnerships with universities and research councils, use patents as a strategic asset in the development of product strategies and enter into more flexible and open-ended licensing arrangements.

The DST is also very much involved in ensuring that we continuously develop the methods, and use the key data, emerging from this excellence- based programme, known as Technology Top 100.

The Technology Top 100 programme is adjudicated using a very effective process, which involves a combination of questionnaires and interviews to ensure a coherent and fact-based assessment. The findings are processed and overseen by an array of adjudicators experienced in different aspects of technology, innovation and firm performance. In most cases the chief executive and executive directors of the organisations participate in the interview.

Excellence programmes, of which Technology Top 100 is one, are necessarily selective - they tend to attract the best and the very best are rewarded, benefiting from participation - in essence answering the toughest of strategic and performance oriented questions. The top firms and organisations in South Africa do not shy away from such scrutiny but welcome it. In addition, they get the opportunity to see how they stack up against their peers.

The National Advisory Council on Innovation, with the DST, takes note of the outcomes of this programme, and the factors that distinguish top performers from the average. Global institutions such as UNIDO have also benchmarked our competitiveness, and our National R&D Strategy made use of the United Nations Development Programmes' Technology Achievement Index, in setting our course for the future.

The bottom line is that facts, will always speak for themselves, and all the evidence is pointing to positive change in the effectiveness of our National System of Innovation, better and smarter ways of working together, more emphasis on innovation based on new research, and less on product substitution and copying (although it is never bad to be effective in these areas as well).

The Technology Top 100 Programme has come a long way since 1994 when the then DACST, with my full support, saw the vital role this programme could play in measuring the progress and celebrating the achievements of businesses and technology-intensive organisations in our country. What we were looking for then were role models who, through tenacity and ingenuity leading to innovation and business performance, were able to make their mark, and add to the enhanced economic performance of our nation and the quality of life of our people. I believe that we have achieved this goal. We need to export this success. In consultation with the NEPAD Secretariat the TT100 process is moving into Ghana and will over the next period expand to more and more of our partners and counterparts in Africa. This will allow new forms of business networking among leaders in technology and innovation across the continent - and it is important for leaders in South Africa to get to know their future partners. So, in celebrating excellence in technology, let us not forget that this programme in itself is a true South African innovation.

This programme must be seen in the context of the pervasive role which technology plays in the economic development of our country. We must also realise that technology and innovation are key enablers in the eradication of poverty, the improvement of health status of our communities, the achievement of food security, clean water, improved sanitation and safe transport. The technological intensity of our industry will differentiate us, and will create the platform for job creation in the manufacturing and service sectors.

The Department of Science and Technology has in the publication of the White Paper on Science and Technology in 1997 and in the National R&D Strategy of 2000 emphasised the dual role which technology plays in the developing world.

For this reason, we developed funding mechanisms, and institutional capacity to do research and innovation directed towards assisting businesses develop global competitiveness, whilst simultaneously targeting programmes in health care, bridging the digital divide, protection of bio-diversity and the more effective promotion and use of indigenous knowledge, including the development of craft industries to ensure that innovation is everybody's business in South Africa.

The DSTs Innovation Fund investment portfolio reflects our commitment to the welfare of the people. Innovations in crime prevention, combating disease, mine safety, reduced exposure to toxic chemicals (to name but a few), feature prominently in our portfolio of projects. 33 of the 102 projects are focused on disease prevention and cure.

It is perhaps fitting on an occasion such as this, when we are saluting South African leaders and their institutions for their technological contributions, that we recognise the significant breakthroughs made by the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative. This cabinet-mandated programme is aimed at finding vaccines - the ultimate form of prevention, which two weeks ago began field trials with clinical tests being conducted in two centres in the country.

This is a significant breakthrough and is a tribute to the more than 100 South African researchers and their international collaborators who have focused their efforts, concentrated on outcomes rather than publications, and have used their intellectual property to reduce the costs of the trials significantly. Our world-class medical researchers have also leveraged a million dollars of research partnership resources with the US National Institutes of Health, and leading institutions, such as the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of Natal. They have attracted partnerships that have built world-class biomedical facilities in Durban over the last 18 months. Leading research laboratories have their eyes firmly focused on this country for partnerships and joint progress in overcoming the scourge of disease.

The government supports this programme because it identifies success. Companies that develop products and processes which are not only being sold in our local markets but which have been able to find lucrative international markets are great companies. The programme enables government to get close to the movers and shakers in technological innovation in order to better understand your needs and challenges. This allows the ongoing adaptation of our policies and programmes, so that we can provide more effective support to you in your endeavours. The programme enables us to learn a lot about what you have done and how you were able to make such a great success of your operations.

The establishment of the Technology Top 100 training programmes is an initiative that enjoys our support. There is no doubt that one of the most effective ways of creating capacity is for all of us to learn from the experiences of others. Learning about technology and innovation is not easy - but it becomes much easier when leaders share their experiences and those who learn from them are already motivated, senior people and young committed people at the start of their technological careers.

I understand that discussions are taking place with provincial officials to run workshops in which the key learning elements from the programme will be communicated to local businesses. I am a firm advocate of action learning and believe that learning from each other's successes and failures will accelerate the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Science and technology, coupled with an enhanced pace of innovation, are crucial for the future of this nation. As much as we have achieved, there is always more to be done. As we approach the end of the first decade of democracy, let us focus our efforts on the unique partnerships that will create more black enterprises that use technology for competitive advantage. Let us harness the power of South Africa's women to be full partners in innovation. TT100 needs to have greater outreach to small and medium enterprises so that they are fully represented and challenged by good practises and the leadership we see here this evening. How many young people visit our firms? Do we take on maths and science students during holidays and let then work with and possibly annoy the chief design engineer. Do we have partnerships with local schools in place? I am sure that you do, in some cases, but I don't think we should let ourselves off the hook. We have made an impressive start and must now challenge each other to greater heights. Will you lead in enthusing the young generation with your passion for excellence in technology, will you train and retrain your workforce to be the vanguard of your expansion into Africa. I know you will if your commitment is continually renewed and your vision remains strong.

I wish to congratulate all the qualifiers who have met the exacting standards of a highly intensive adjudication process. To the winners, well done! Your achievements are truly outstanding; we wish you continued strength in your endeavours.

I thank you.

Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)