Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
School of Engineering
Department of Engineering and Technology Management
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The project investigated how the principles of sustainability may improve technology management practices in the context of integrated renewable energy systems in remote areas of Africa. The overall objective was to derive a model to prioritise assessable sustainability performance metrics that can be used to evaluate such technological systems and facilitate their transfer and adoption in remote communities. The specific case of the off-grid wind energy system at Lucingweni Village in the Eastern Cape Province was used as basis for the investigation. The project confirms that increased understanding of the principles of sustainability science may improve the sustainability performance of renewable energy interventions. This applies during the design stages, i.e. during the pre-feasibility and feasibility phases, and in the uptake stages, i.e. the transfer and adoption phases, of the technology life cycle. In this case the application of the derived model highlighted the key sustainability aspects that had been disregarded in the design, and transfer and adoption stages namely: socio-economic needs and beneficiation, ownership, and social behavioural changes. Failure to address these aspects will lead to technological systems that are unsustainable.
Contact person: Prof AC Brent.
The aim of this research project was three-fold; namely to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the national research and development (R&D) system by analysing time-series data from national R&D surveys and other sources; to develop a comprehensive System Dynamics Model (SDM) of the R&D performing sectors in the South African National System of Innovation, namely the Higher Education System, the public sector and the private sector; and to use the SDM to estimate the effect investment in R&D (or the lack thereof) might have on the South African R&D system’s ability to produce R&D output and to absorb R&D related knowledge in future. Findings indicate that R&D is one of the key sub-functions of a National System of Innovation (NSI). It is the primary point of entry for new scientific development and a key focus for industrial innovation. Recent trends show evidence of disinvestments and decay of South Africa’s R&D capacity. A high-level finding from this study is that a sustained investment in R&D is of the highest importance for the future of South Africa’s R&D capacity. From the model output is was clear that should South Africa’s R&D system be allowed to decay, it will be much more expensive to rebuild than to maintain. It was also found that an improvement in the time management of academic and research staff could improve R&D capacity in the Higher Education Sector. The usefulness of the models lies in their ability to estimate the effect different R&D investment decisions or R&D policy changes (e.g. implementation of fiscal policies in the Private sector) might have on the R&D capacity of South Africa’s R&D system. This could be a valuable tool for policy-makers in the public and private sectors.
Contact person: Prof AJ Buys.
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