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Science and technology (S&T) has a major role to play in alleviating both absolute and relative poverty. Absolute poverty refers to the absence of minimum basic needs (water, food, health, shelter, safety and security), while relative poverty refers to the gaps in incomes between the rich and the poor. The benefits accruing from R&D materialise only once the outcomes of R&D are transferred and assimilated into the economy.
The Enterprise Creation for Development (ECD)
office was created as the organisation’s primary vehicle to address the technology needs of the second economy to alleviate both absolute and relative poverty. The office aims to form a bridge between the scientific community and society such that scientists understand the needs of communities, and communities in turn understand the value of science for their own advancement. Furthermore, the ECD addresses market inequalities, and to this end its work centres on technology transfer activities within the context of enterprise development that will generate social and economic development opportunities. In this regard, the ECD has a strategic partnership with the Science and Technology for Social Impact sub-programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC).
How the ECD operates |
