Conference: Keeping the COFISA Communities Alive – 23 March 2011
Date: 23 March 2011
Time: 7:30 for 8:00
Venue: Vulindlela Conference Venue, DBSA (download directions here)
Register: Before Friday, 4 March 2011, REGISTER HERE.
Queries: Pamella Gysman from SAINe
Tel:012 844 0208
Fax:086 566 8421
Fee: Free
About COFISA:
Launched in September 2006, The Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa (COFISA) was a programme launched to enhance the effectiveness of the national system of innovation, and thus enable South Africa to better compete in the increasingly knowledge-intensive global economy. It was funded jointly by the governments of South Africa, through the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Finland, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
COFISA was designed to be a pilot programme − a catalyst that would challenge our thinking and approaches to innovation systems development. The programme successfully delivered on its mandate, and the COFISA programme was officially closed on 28 February 2010.
During the programme, the COFISA team’s approach was one of facilitating and enabling multi-helix communities to work together on projects in its three focus provinces, but these processes extended to a number of other activities as well. Much effort was placed on training and the influence of this remains active in many places today. A number of projects, as well as the SA Innovation Network (SAINe), and five innovation communities were spawned from the COFISA programme. These five communities include Foresighting, Rural Innovation, Science Parks and Incubators, the Activator Programme and Open Innovation. SAINe has taken the initiative of carrying on with the momentum initiated by the COFISA programme, by keeping these innovation communities alive and active. As part of this initiative, SAINe will be hosting a one day conference on 23 March 2011. The objective is for these communities to share their experience since COFISA and how they are continuing to grow the innovation system through their efforts.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity!
-
* Listen to some of South Africa’s leading innovation professionals discuss best practice for implementing and managing Innovation.
* Learn from the successes and failures of the projects that were born out of the COFISA programme.
* Participate in rigorous discussion.
The conference shall cover the themes of COFISA, as below, as well as introduce a soon to be launched Southern African Innovation Support programme in four SADC countries:
-
* The Learning from COFISA
* The impact of innovation training
* Foresighting
* Rural Innovation & Living Labs
* Science Parks & Incubators
* Open Innovation
Please note: This event is open only to official SAINe members at first and thereafter other members of the innovation community. In the spirit of information sharing, entry is free. However, this does not mean that there are no costs attached to the event. Should you RSVP and not attend, we will unfortunately have to charge a penalty fee of R 1 500. Seating is limited to 150 participants; and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Featured News
Cape Town Business Building...
The Business Building 2012 Workshop Series with a ICT and Mobile focus presented over two days in Cape Town on 30 & 31 May 2012. All sectors welcome to attend.
Latest Events
Business Building Workshop 12 June 2012 Pretoria
12 June 2012 at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria -‘Preparing Yourself for the Entrepreneurial Journey’ by Coen Bester and ‘Future technologies and Business modelling for your business’ by Dr Anthon Botha and ‘The role of ICT within SME’s in Gauteng and the Knowledge Economy’ by Lloyd Modimogale.
Cape Town Business Building Workshop with ICT and Mobile focus 30 & 31 May 2012
The Business Building 2012 Workshop Series with a ICT and Mobile focus presented over two days in Cape Town on 30 & 31 May 2012. All sectors welcome to attend.
