Electricity and Control May 2024

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

Industrialisation starts with focused R&D

O ne of the core objectives of the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is to improve the competitiveness of high-impact industries to support South Africa’s reindustrialisation by collaboratively developing, lo calising and implementing technology. Among other things, the CSIR supports the inclusion of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) into the economy by improving operational efficiencies and increas ing competitiveness. It promotes the adoption of advanced technology, commercialisation of CSIR intellectual property and the incubation of new SMMEs with improved access to high-end equipment and infrastructure. In its latest annual report, 2022/23, it presents (among many other projects) some examples of the SMMEs it has supported. CSIR Cannabis Hub The CSIR has set up a cannabis research hub for SMMEs in the cannabis sector to de-risk early phase research, devel opment and commercialisation. Supported by government departments such as the Department of Science and In novation, Department of Small Business Development and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the CSIR is already assisting 23 SMMEs and industry players to develop and market high-quality, regulatory-compliant, safe and effective products that can compete in local, regional and international markets. The cannabis-based products under development in clude herbal remedies, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and food products. Through such interventions, the CSIR is helping with skills transfer, as well as the quality, safety and effi cacy of products – thereby providing strategic support to the cannabis industry in the region. Services offered at the hub include cannabis extraction, using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, as well as process and method develop ment for various cannabis strains. The extraction method is environmentally benign and considered the gold standard

for cannabis/hemp oil extraction. Purification services in clude winterisation and decarboxylation steps for the re moval of lipids and conversion of phytocannabinoids into active molecular forms to increase oil quality and value. In respect of training, services include access to a facil ity for integrated learning for current and prospective work ers in the cannabis and natural products industry in South Africa and the sub region. The focus is on chemistry, en gineering and pharmaceutical training via internships and workplace training for students and entrepreneurs. Prod uct and process development services centre on taking an idea from proof of concept, through development and opti misation, to pilot-scale manufacturing of products. Cape Aloe Project The CSIR handed over market-ready samples and product information files for six cosmetic products, based on Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe), to three enterprises in the Eastern Cape. The laboratory-scale cosmetic product prototypes include a face wash, body lotion, hand cream, hand wash, hair food and hair spray. CSIR biotechnologists validated the processing of the Aloe ferox material and tested the ingredient quality to en sure regulatory compliance. This means the plant materi al can be processed and produced at commercial scale close to source. In addition to the training of communities and the development of SMMEs in the area, the CSIR also developed high-quality stabilised Aloe ferox gels for the cosmetic industry. Nozulu Aloe Cooperative, Karibu Construction and General, as well as Ziyanda Enterprise benefitted from the opportunity to produce a stable gel and associated cosmetic products, which have undergone industry evaluation, passed quality tests and now adhere to regulatory standards. The research and development work and subsequent technology transfer advance agro-processing technologies and the commercialisation of cosmetics made with natural ingredients, such as Aloe ferox, to the benefit of local enterprise development. The project was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, through the Technology Innovation Agency, under the Agriculture Bioeconomy Innovation Partnership Programme. The CSIR has made great strides in deploying its novel tel evision white spaces (TVWS) technology, which makes it possible to provide affordable broadband wireless internet connectivity to underserved rural and township communi ties by using TV bands for broadband access. In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the CSIR has facilitated the deployment of the technology to support 13 youth- and women owned SMME network operators. These operators have implemented affordable broadband network infrastructure Using TV white spaces to provide rural connectivity

Cannabis-based products under development with support from the CSIR include herbal remedies, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and food products.

28 Electricity + Control MAY 2024