NRF: SOLVE Initiative
STATUS: Current
PROJECT LEADER:
Ramoroka, KH (Dr Kgabo)OTHER TEAM MEMBERS: Booysen, AS (Ms Denise)
DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: ()
Abstract
South Africa, through the Minister of Science of Technology, was invited to join a new membership-based global initiative spearheaded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) called Solve (visit www.solve.mit.edu). Solve aims to convene technologists, philanthropists, business leaders, policy makers, and change agents to examine and address the problems where technology, business innovation, and smart policy can be leveraged to bring about real and lasting change. Solve is based on the acknowledgement that in order to tackle difficult problems, a range of perspectives and experience are required. The Solve community is being carefully curated to be diverse in almost every way. People who have the time, talents, knowledge, and resources needed to drive positive solutions that make an impact were invited. The intention is to create a place for business and philanthropic thought leaders, global policy makers and regulators, academic and corporate researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators, activists and students to come together.
The first major activity of Solve is an inaugural 4-day workshop to be held at the MIT campus in Boston, Massachusetts between 5-8 October 2015. The event is aimed at dealing with key intractable problems facing humanity. Solve is based on four key pillars (learn, cure, fuel, and make). Please visit the solve website which provides detail information on the kinds of issues and challenges that underpin each of the four pillars. All four of the pillars of the Solve initiative align closely with priority areas which are supported by the Department of Science and Technology in support of Innovation for Inclusive Development.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has accepted the invitation to become a member of Solve for a 1-year trial period. In terms of the current agreement, South Africa will send two departmental officials and four young and passionate South Africans who represent with integrity the best interest of the country to the inaugural event to interact on follow-up activities for the next year. The inaugural event and 1-year trial period will be used to finalise how the South African National System of Innovation can secure maximum long-term benefit through a membership to Solve.
