The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA or the Agency)
was established in terms of the TIA Act, 2008 (Act No. 26 of 2008), with
the objective of - “Stimulating and intensifying technological
innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life
of all South Africans by developing and exploiting technological
innovations”.
The Agency is set up as a public entity with the aim to enhance the
country’s capacity to translate a greater proportion of local research
and development into commercial technology products and services. The
TIA is tasked with exploiting the existing body of knowledge at
universities and public research institutions and channelling it
effectively towards the development of technology based industries.
Vision
The Technology Innovation Agency has a vision of becoming a “world
class innovation agency that supports and enables technological
innovation to achieve socio-economic benefits for South Africa through
leveraging strategic partnerships”.
Mission
In line with this vision, the TIA mission is to enhance South Africa’s
global competitiveness and to deliver socio-economic value through
technological innovation across sectors of the economy. To meet its
mandate, the TIA will provide and mobilize financial and nonfinancial
support across broad technology areas in various sectors of the economy
through:
- appropriately structured financial and non-financial interventions
for the commercialisation of Research and Development (R&D) results;
- the development and maintenance of advanced human capacity for innovation as opposed to just R&D human capital;
- building a culture of innovation in the South African economy and
- leveraging local and international partnerships in order to
facilitate in-bound technology transfer, build local technological
competencies, and encourage foreign direct investment for the
commercialization of technologies in South Africa.