CSIR CEO Thulani Dlamini on ‘ideas that work for industrial development’

The 6th CSIR conference recently took place under the theme “Ideas that Work for Industrial Development”. Thulani Dlamini, CEO of the CSIR, spoke on the theme of the conference and the importance of industry and government working together to drive industrial development. Dlamini highlighted the strategic direction of the organization, focusing on increasing industrial development and enabling competitiveness in existing industries while also creating new enterprises and industries. He emphasized the crucial role of innovation in enhancing industrial competitiveness and establishing new enterprises. Dlamini mentioned that the CSIR is currently analyzing various sectors to identify opportunities for innovation to play a significant role in boosting industrial competitiveness and fostering the growth of new enterprises. He stressed the importance of partnerships between industry and government to maximize the value generated by these industries. Dlamini explained that the organization's mandate requires them to conduct research and technological innovation that is directed by the needs of both the public and private sectors. He underscored the necessity of improved interaction and coordination between the public and private sectors to achieve this goal. Moreover, Dlamini discussed an exciting project called Project Synapse, which aims to strike a balance between scientific and industrial development. Project Synapse is designed to transition the CSIR towards a stronger focus on industrial development, aligning with the conference's theme of fostering innovative ideas that drive industrial growth.