News
Joint: Media Release
The University of Pretoria (UP) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 22 July 2020, to collaborate in the area of smart transport, cities and environments.
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in collaboration with the Biorefinery Industry Development Facility (BIDF) at the CSIR, invite interested South African SME's to submit expressions of interest to the open call: ACCELERATED IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOREFINERY TECHNOLOGIES. The objective of the programme is to demonstrate waste beneficiation biorefinery technologies to bridge the gap between pre-commercialisation instruments for technology development and full entry into commercial scale.
Scenarios created by the CSIR, and the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent government decisions, on small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs) across South Africa. A team of researchers from the three institutions gathered data from SMMEs and experts across various industries to create a picture of the economic condition of these businesses in the midst of lockdown.
Scientific studies into a traditional medicine that may help improve the body’s ability to fight off and recover from infection, may be helpful in the fight against COVID-19.
The Prijap Biolife traditional medicine has been in the market for 10 years and has been used to treat patients who have been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. This South African patented product, with its unique preparation method, is claimed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, detoxifying and appetite, immune and energy boosting properties.
The CSIR printed and manufactured medical-quality protective facial shields for use by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in deployments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Manufactured from materials strictly specified as suitable for medical use, the facial shields are not similar to commercially available equivalents.
As part of the national data-driven approach to countering COVID-19, the CSIR has developed a platform that monitors human mobility to better understand movement patterns across specific areas, such as virus hotspots, high-risk and vulnerable areas, as well as monitor lockdown compliance and the spread of the virus.
The CSIR has partnered with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to enable local Internet service providers to deploy Television White Space (TVWS) networks, using the CSIR-developed Secondary Geo-Location Spectrum Database (S-GLSD) platform.
The CSIR is working towards strengthening the capacity of the Department of Health to improve the handling of COVID-19 infections in South Africa. Researchers are contributing to various activities, such as providing technical support, drafting guidelines, as well as providing training to healthcare workers.
The CSIR is collaborating and contributing to the response strategy of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) in the development of COVID-19 response plans as part of a long-term programme to improve public transport service delivery in the province.