An inaugural steering committee meeting of the Free State Regional Innovation Forum was held on 22 February 2013 at Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Bloemfontein campus. The establishment of Regional Innovation Forums (RIF’s) is an initiative of Department of Sciences and Technology (DST) aimed at promoting innovation and economic growth across the various provinces of South Africa. 

The Free State province did not let this amazing opportunity for cross-pollination and research collaboration pass it by.   The objective of the RIF’s is to create platforms for deliberation amongst various contributors to the innovation value chain in order to initiate projects aimed at improving the economic status of regions. The Free State Province will be amongst the first provinces to implement this initiative and the DST has appropriated funds to CUT with the expectation that Higher Education, Government, and Formal and Informal Business participate in the process. Accordingly, discussions were held with amongst a number of regional stakeholders which included fruitful bilateral discussions between the CUT and University of the Free State (UFS).   Terms of reference for the Free State RIF were drawn up and agreed upon by an interim steering committee whose purpose to plan and arrange for launch of RIV scheduled to take place by July 2013.   We look forward to a long and productive partnership, producing a number of projects and initiatives to improve the socio-economic status of the Free State province.   

Pictured is (front row): Mr Johann Strauss, Deputy Director: Sector and local Innovation at the Department of Science and Technology (DST); Mr Winston Baatjies, Deputy Director: Innovation, Planning and Instruments at the DST; Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at CUT; and Mr Werner Nel, Innovation Office at the University of the Free State. (Back row): Mr Ludrick Barnard, Director of Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) at CUT;  Prof. Laetus Lategan, Dean: Research and Development at CUT; Prof. Jorrie Jordaan, Director: Technology and Innovation at CUT; Mr Gerrie Booysen, Director of Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at CUT; and Prof. Ryk Lues, Coordinator: Regional Innovation Forum (CUT).