To: ALL Media
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) will, on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, launch Phase 2 of the DSTI and TIA Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Innovation Cluster. The launch marks an important milestone in South Africa's efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, enhance medicine security and advance industrial development through innovation.
Established by the DSTI and TIA in 2020, the API Innovation Cluster was created to build South Africa’s capacity to develop innovative technologies and accelerate the commercialisation of manufacturing processes for small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). By bringing together research expertise, specialised infrastructure and industry partners, the cluster aims to expand local pharmaceutical production, improve competitiveness and contribute to economic growth and improved health outcomes.
The initiative aligns with TIA’s strategic objective of strengthening South Africa’s innovation ecosystem through support for locally developed technologies, prototype development and access to specialised infrastructure and expertise. By advancing the localisation of pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, the cluster seeks to reduce reliance on imports, strengthen regional value chains and position South Africa as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub on the African continent.
Members of the media can expect an overview of Phase 2 of the API Innovation Cluster, updates on progress towards localising the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and insights into collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening South Africa's pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Opportunities for interviews with representatives from the CSIR, DSTI and TIA will also be available.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Venue: CSIR ICC, Pretoria
Time: 09:00
Contact details for RSVP and media enquiries:
Phetolo Phatsibi, Media Relations Practitioner
Email: @email
Mobile: 081 396 8871
About the CSIR:
The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. 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. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za.
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About the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
About TIA:
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is a public entity in South Africa that serves as a key institutional intervention to bridge the gap between the innovation undertaken by higher education institutions, science councils, public entities, and the private sector and the commercialisation of these innovations.
Established in 2010, TIA has a national footprint with offices in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and Gauteng. The core mandate of the Agency is to fund and support innovative technologies with strong commercial potential. In addition to financial support, TIA offers a range of programmes that provide non-financial assistance to innovators and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
TIA also acts as a catalyst and enabler of innovation through strategic partnerships at local, continental, and global levels. Read more at https://www.tia.org.za/who-we-are/