Page 20 - EngineerIT Nov-Dec 2025

SPONSORED

CSIR celebrates 80 years of

pioneering scientific innovations

By Hans van de Groenendaal, Science and technology writer*

arking 80 years of A fully owned CSIR company,
pioneering scientific CSIR C³ has dedicated capacity
Minnovations in service to drive all aspects of technology
of society, government, and commercialisation, providing
industry, the Council for Scientific adequate financial resources
and Industrial Research (CSIR) throughout the technology de-risking
has reaffirmed its commitment process and into commercialisation.
to addressing evolving national The standalone enterprise holds all
challenges. The CSIR reported that CSIR IP and acts as an incubator for
it remains financially sustainable start-up enterprises underpinned by
and has exceeded its financial strong technical support. It enables
targets. The organisation’s total the commercialisation of CSIR IP by
operating income increased by 11%, developing a network of investors
growing from R3.17 billion in 2023/24 and entrepreneurs.
to R3.54 billion in 2024/25. Private Dr Thulani Dlamini
sector income grew by 7% and “To safeguard our IP that is ready
international income grew by 10%. for industrialisation but not yet with public sector entities reached
taken up by industry we continue its highest level since 2019. Projects
The CSIR achieved or exceeded 29 with our research and development ranged from predictive models for the
of its 31 key performance indicators efforts to enhance industrialisation national and provincial elections to
(94%), with a 22% increase in opportunities. We learned a hard frameworks for transforming taxi ranks
projects for government and state- lesson in 1946 when we abandoned into economic hubs and environmental
owned entities (SOEs) compared further research in a pioneering assessments that support the
to 2023/24, reinforcing the lithium battery technology because green hydrogen economy. These
organisation’s value to the state. there was no industry interest at the initiatives illustrate the breadth of our
time”, Dr Dlamini said. capabilities and the alignment of our
Speaking at a recent media work with national priorities,” he added.
round table, CSIR Chief Executive In the sixth year since the launch of
Officer, Dr Thulani Dlamini, the revised strategy in 2019/20 the “Similarly, our work with private
said that the institution made CSIR has remained committed to sector has shown significant growth
significant progress in technology amplifying the “I” in CSIR through illustrating a closer alignment of
commercialisation, signing 12 new research, development and our capabilities with the needs of
license agreements with industry innovation that meet national needs industry, a key component of our
partners during the reporting while remaining true to its EPIC values current strategy.” Dr Dlamini further
period. The establishment of and deepening research capabilities. emphasised that, “None of this would
CSIR C³ in October 2023 has “Our strategic intent of growth, have been possible without the
accelerated efforts to translate sustainability, impact and relevance dedication and excellence of our staff”.
intellectual property into impact. has continued to shape our decisions
Key technologies such as MycoSure, and drive our performance,” Dr Making a difference where it
Stratafy and Herbathone™ have Dlamini said. counts most
advanced closer to market The CSIR’s supercomputing experts
readiness through strategic “Our strategy has yielded significant assisted a major African research
collaborations. The CSIR’s portfolio results in forging deeper partnerships institute in transferring vast amounts of
of license agreements and with industry, government and genomic data to a Harvard University
technology demonstrators reflect a higher education institutions. For server in just 45 minutes – a process
maturing innovation pipeline. the reporting year, our collaboration that would have initially taken over a

20 | EngineerIT November/December 2025