South Africa urged to strengthen innovation ecosystem at Inaugural Innovation Week
Date: 2026-03-19
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
South Africa has been urged
to intensify investment in innovation as a driver of economic growth and
national development, with a strong focus on translating research into
practical outcomes.
Speaking at the opening of
the inaugural SA Innovation Week, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, stressed that innovation remains critical to
the country’s future competitiveness and resilience.
According to her the world’s
fastest-growing economies are those that make deliberate investments in
research and development while ensuring that ideas are converted into tangible
economic and social value.
Dr. Gina called for
sustained efforts to strengthen South Africa’s innovation ecosystem by
supporting researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to develop locally driven
solutions that promote inclusive growth.
She the noted that
innovation should be treated as a necessity rather than an option, highlighting
its central role in shaping a forward-looking and competitive economy.
