PROFILE 5

A robot is a programmable machine that can complete a task typically performed by a human. Robots have different levels of autonomy, ranging from human-controlled to autonomous bots that perform tasks without external influence. The field of study focused on developing robots and automation is called robotics.
Industrial robots are typically seen as a replacement for labour, while collaborative robots, or cobots, possess the innate ability to work in tandem with humans.

PROFILE 4

Augmented reality (AR) technology allows digital content to be overlayed or superimposed onto the real world. AR is only partially immersive as digital content is integrated as a layer onto the real world, whereas virtual reality is closed and fully immersive. The costs of applying augmented reality are much lower than the costs of virtual reality because AR typically combines a visual feed with a data layer; it does not involve the creation of a complete virtual world.
A major benefit of AR is that it reduces users’ cognitive load and provides technical staff access to relevant (and digitally updated) records, data and information.

PROFILE 3

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be described as the ability of digital systems to acquire and apply knowledge, and to autonomously execute tasks associated with intelligent beings. This includes a variety of cognitive tasks such as sensing, processing, language, reasoning, learning or even making decisions or self-correcting. AI combines sophisticated hardware and software with elaborate datasets and knowledge-based processing models to demonstrate characteristics of effective human decision-making.
It would be a mistake to think of AI as a technology of the future, because it is already used in our smartphones, on websites, in aircraft, for traffic navigation, in the finance sector, and increasingly in manufacturing.

PROFILE 2 

Over the past 10 years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has slowly crept into the daily lives of consumers through smartwatches, vehicle tracking systems, public transport apps, home alarm systems and food delivery services. These technologies offer many conveniences, such as tracking transport schedules, parcel deliveries, the location of assets like vehicles, or local weather conditions. It takes existing expert domains, such as smart factories, process automation, flexible manufacturing and process control, and combines these with the extensive reach of internet and telecommunication technologies.
For industry, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) offers increased oversight and connectivity between different manufacturing and business processes, and closer integration with suppliers, logistics providers, warehouses, and even clients. It allows for improved efficiency and better analysis of process flows, often over large distances. At the same time, it allows for new services to be offered to clients such as predictive mainte-nance, management systems, analytical services and software updates.
At the heart of IoT technology is the capability to integrate the data streams from distributed sensors into management systems and user interfaces. While some sensors mainly collect and transmit data, other sensors could be programmed to automatically trigger programmed functions. As these different sensors and devices perform their functions, rich data is collected that allows for improved process management and efficiency, data analysis and value to be offered.

These research papers and policy briefs focus on preparing South African industry for the fourth industrial revolution.

POLICY BRIEF

Adoption of frontier technologies in six manufacturing subsectors
This policy brief highlights the adoption of frontier technologies in six manufacturing subsectors: metal and engineering; retail motor and aftercare; plastics; manufacturing; automotive components; automotive manufacturing; and new tyre manufacturing. This is important because, while there is an understanding of the importance of frontier technologies for the manufacturing sector, there has not been a comprehensive investigation of the level of adoption across the different subsectors. Previous research has either zoned in on one sector, such as metal, or looked at the level of adoption at the continental level. To address the gap, a survey was conducted on behalf of merSETA (the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority) to collate baseline information on key trends around technological change. This policy brief highlights the aggregated results from the survey. The survey analysis is supplemented by interview data with key stakeholders in the industry.

POLICY BRIEF

Technological change and the DTIC: innovation in the industry
The rapid pace of technological change is taking place in the context of South Africa slipping in its readiness for these changes. At the same time policies to support structural economic change in the economy, such as moving from a dependence on mining and commodities, are being implemented. Technological change and innovation are important elements of this structural change. This Policy Brief aims to give context to these technological changes and the industrial policy interface.

RESEARCH REPORTS

• Framing the concepts that underpin discontinuous technological change, technological capability and absorptive capacity
  This paper takes the form of a literature study on the topic of technological change, innovation and building technological capabilities.
  
  
• World Economic Forum and the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa
  This paper focuses on the fourth industrial revolution and the concept as promoted by the World Economic Forum, international consultancies, governments and multinational firms.
  
  
• Mapping the meso space that enables technological change, productivity improvement and innovation in the manufacturing sector
  This paper focuses on meso organisations and policies that strengthen the technological capability of the country or an industry to enable change, adaptation and economic resilience.
  
  
• Technological change and sustainable mobility: An overview of global trends and South African developments
  This paper focuses on technological change and the developments in the sustainable mobility topic in South Africa.

REPORT BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SURVEY OF RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

Every year the South African R&D Survey collects data on financial and human resource inputs into the R&D activities of South African firms, universities, science councils, public research institutes, government departments, and NPOs. The survey reports provide users with a unique ability to benchmark by sector, nationally and globally. This assists policymakers to engage in responsive policy development and organisational planning, and promotes competitive advantage. Survey reports are also used to develop research policy to set priorities, determine government research funding investment, enhance science education, and develop incentive schemes for R&D and innovation in the private sector. The Survey is administered by the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) for the Department of Science and Innovation, with quality assurance by Statistics South Africa. CeSTII is a specialised research unit of the Human Sciences Research Council, and has conducted science, technology and innovation surveys in South Africa for years.

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REPORT BY NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION

This report outlines the state of science, technology and innovation (STI) in South Africa in the context of deepening global economic, ecological and social crises. Commissioned by the National Advisory Council on Innovation, the report looks at investments in Research, Development and Innovation, STI human resources, innovation in manufacturing, digital competitiveness, and the distribution of Research and Development (R&D) in provinces, among other indicators. The report compares South Africa’s performance with various countries, identifying the relative strengths and weaknesses of the national system of innovation. It also indicates progress in creating conditions conducive to the translation of innovative R&D into useful technologies with a positive impact on the economy, society and the environment.

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REPORT BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

The latest iteration of the WEF Emerging Technologies of 2021 report covers technologies like breath sensors that can diagnose disease and the wireless charging of low-powered devices. This is the 10th-anniversary edition of the report that is available from the WEF website. The WEF and the Scientific American Journal select these technologies against several criteria. For instance, the technologies are selected because they promise major benefits to societies and economies, they must be disruptive, attractive to researchers and investors, and they must be expected to achieve considerable scale within five years.

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PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION

This annual report provides the latest available data on science, technology and innovation in the South African economy. The conceptual framework for the report utilises the revised South African Innovation Scorecard framework that is adapted from the European Scoreboard. This makes it easier to compare how South Africa is performing in relation to the European Innovation System. The report shows that South Africa is slipping in performance in many key areas, despite considerable investments in human capital and science and technology infrastructure.

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