Speaker
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
N/A
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)<br><a href="http://events.saip.org.za/getFile.py/access?resId=0&materialId=0&confId=34" target="_blank">Formatting &<br>Special chars</a>
The Photonics Prototyping Facility (PPF) is being established in the CSIR, with the CSIR National Laser Centre (NLC) acting as the host institution where the programme is funded through the DST and CSIR. The principal function of the facility is to support the competitiveness of the existing South African Photonics industry. Currently, South Africa has a miniscule market share of the lucrative global Photonics industry. The contributing factors to this lack of impact are: many Photonics-based technologies conceived at science councils and HEIs are not commercialised, let alone prototyped. The barriers to cross this chasm are a lack of skilled manpower (scientific and business expertise needed to industrialise technologies) and a lack of the necessary infrastructure. The aim of the PPF is to address these issues by providing the Photonics community (HEIs and industry) with the necessary skills (optical engineering, industrial design and business development) and facilities (equipment and clean room space). This will support prototype development and characterisation to assist in the industrialisation of South African-based Photonics technologies. In this manner the PPF will bridge the “Innovation chasm” that is widely recognised as a barrier to successful technology transfer and commercialisation. Through partnerships with industry and the formation of SMMEs, the uptake of PPF developed prototypes will lead to novel Photonics products thus improving industry competitiveness and creating new jobs. The NLC will present this initiative and its plan toward successful technology transfer in prototype development.
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD, N/A)?
N/A
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
No
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
NO
Please indicate whether<br>this abstract may be<br>published online<br>(Yes / No)
Yes
