Pretoria, South Africa, 31 August 2026 – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the German Development Bank (KfW) have signed a grant agreement to strengthen biomanufacturing capabilities in southern Africa through the establishment of the Southern African Biomanufacturing Training Hub. The grant is provided by the European Union as part of its Global Gateway flagship project: “Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies”.
Managed by the CSIR, in partnership with leading national and international institutions, the hub will focus on biomanufacturing skills development to build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the growth of the country's biotechnology, vaccine and biopharmaceutical sectors. This focus is essential for strengthening health security, enhancing industrial competitiveness and positioning South Africa as a leading biomanufacturing hub for Africa.
“Building a strong biomanufacturing sector requires both world-class infrastructure and people with the prerequisite skills to translate scientific innovation into products that improve lives. The establishment of the Southern African Biomanufacturing Training Hub is a strategic investment in the people, capabilities and partnerships needed to strengthen Africa’s health security and manufacturing capacity,” says CSIR Chief Executive Officer, Dr Thulani Dlamini.
“Through this partnership with KfW and the European Union, the CSIR will significantly expand specialised, hands-on training and help develop a pipeline of highly skilled professionals equipped to support vaccine, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
“By strengthening skills across the biomanufacturing value chain, we are contributing to a more resilient African health and innovation ecosystem, while creating opportunities for industrial growth, job creation and technological advancement. This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when government, industry, academia and international partners work together towards a shared vision of a competitive, sustainable and globally connected biomanufacturing capability for South Africa and the African continent,” Dlamini adds.
“The growth in biomanufacturing presents significant opportunities for job creation, industrial development and technological innovation. However, realising these opportunities requires sustained investment in workforce development, technical training infrastructure and partnerships among government, academia, industry and international organisations,” says Dlamini.
The funding will be used to upgrade and expand the CSIR’s existing training infrastructure, enabling specialised hands-on training for up to 400 candidates per year. The CSIR has a broad range of biomanufacturing competencies that will contribute to the overall goal of increasing the local manufacture of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics in Africa.
Dr Santosh Ramchuran, a CSIR Chief Researcher and the Director of the Southern African Biomanufacturing Training Hub, says: “We’ve designed a structured biomanufacturing training programmme across three levels: early, intermediate and advanced, creating a clear pathway from foundational skills development to specialist expertise. This focused programme will combine theoretical learning with practical, hands-on training to prepare graduates and industry professionals for the demands of modern biomanufacturing.”
Over the next two years, the CSIR will help address critical skills shortages in bioprocess development, vaccine production, quality control, good manufacturing practices and large-scale biomanufacturing operations.
The European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer, says: “The European Union is partnering with South African youth and talent to build biomanufacturing skills and address the needs of this growing industry. By expanding training capacity and offering scholarships, this project will unlock opportunities for the next generation while strengthening local supply chains and manufacturing ecosystems, ensuring Africa’s health security and industrial competitiveness for years to come.”
“As demand for biomanufacturing expertise continues to grow across Africa and globally, this strategic investment will contribute to building a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting innovation, strengthening regional health and biotechnology value chains and driving sustainable industrial development,” Dlamini says.
Ends
Issued by Strategic Communications
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The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is one of Africa’s leading organisations in scientific and technology research, development and implementation. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development, to improve the quality of life of all South Africans.
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Published 31 August 2026