The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to together deploy digital skills learning programmes, to stimulate economic growth in the country. The TIA falls under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, while the MICT SETA reportes to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

“The partnership reflects an inclusive approach to skills development, recognising the need for equity and access in the innovation ecosystem,” affirmed TIA acting CEO Ismail Abdoola. “By placing skilled interns within TIA investee companies and National System of Innovation (NSI) partners, we can address the challenges of capacity within our startups who need additional personnel to successfully deliver on their projects. These placements will also create opportunities for permanent employment of interns within these [small, medium-sized and microenterprises]. This will also enable us to increase the rate of startup formation in the digital economy space led by competent founders equipped with the relevant skills.”

The strategic partnership will be a “multi-year” relationship. The two agencies will collaborate to design and execute targeted Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and digital skills programmes. The intent is to provide young people, women, and people with disabilities, with wider access to innovation-driven learning, and so improve their job readiness. It will also strengthen the country’s NSI.    

“A key feature of the MoU is the development of bursary schemes and the establishment of a Research Chair for Master’s and PhD students dedicated to Innovation Management within the NSI,” highlighted MICT SETA CEO Matome Madibana. “This initiative will strengthen the country’s research capabilities and create a pipeline of highly skilled graduates ready to contribute to innovation-led growth. By linking education, research, and industry, the partnership positions practical training and academic inquiry as key enablers of workforce development and economic advancement.”

Under the partnership, graduates will be placed, as interns, in TIA-supported companies and programmes, and with TIA partners. This will give them essential work experience, increasing their chances of getting jobs. And emerging entrepreneurs will get training related to the 4IR, which will be delivered through accelerators, hackathons and mentorships. There will also be co-funded incubation programmes to support early-stage innovators, from the formulation of their ideas to commercialisation. Placement opportunities for unemployed youth will be created, in partnership with all spheres of government.