The Technology Innovation Agency and the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority signed the partnership this week.

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has partnered with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) to accelerate innovation, digital skills development, and economic inclusion across South Africa.

Ismail Abdoola, acting CEO of TIA, underlined that the multi-year collaboration will see both institutions jointly design and implement a range of fourth-industrial-revolution aligned learning and incubation programmes.

He emphasised that the partnership is set to strengthen South Africa’s National System of Innovation and support national priorities, including the National Development Plan, the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and the Decadal Plan.

“The partnership reflects an inclusive approach to skills development, recognising the need for equity and access in the innovation ecosystem. By placing skilled interns within TIA investee companies and NSI partners, we can address the capacity challenges in start-ups and create pathways to permanent employment,” said Abdoola.

Matome Madibana, CEO of MICT SETA stressed that the MoU will also support the creation of bursaries and the establishment of a Research Chair in Innovation Management to empower Master’s and PhD students.

“By linking education, research, and industry, the partnership positions practical training and academic inquiry as key enablers of workforce development and economic advancement,” he said.

Youth, women, and persons living with disabilities stand to benefit from co-funded hackathons, accelerators, and mentorship-driven development initiatives. 

Graduates will gain workplace exposure through internships, while early-stage innovators will be supported through ideation, business incubation, and commercialisation efforts.

Crucially, the partnership also aims to expand access to innovation infrastructure, with plans to establish digital hubs and 4IR incubation centres through public and private sector collaboration. 

These platforms will provide science, engineering, and technology resources and enable ICT start-ups to access corporate supply chains and global networks.

TIA Board chairperson Loyiso Tyira added that the partnership represents a coordinated and action-oriented approach to delivering on South Africa’s innovation and skills development agenda.

“It embodies our vision of embedding the quadruple helix model—linking government, industry, academia, and civil society into the innovation system. We invite more partners to join us in addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality,” said Tyira.

The TIA Board chairperson believes that with South Africa facing rising demand for digital fluency and technological resilience, the TIA–MICT SETA collaboration marks a decisive step toward a more inclusive, future-ready economy, powered by innovation and people.

Source link