Transcript Fibre Innovation Hub Rapid Assessment and Strategic Plan

Fibre Innovation Hub Rapid
Assessment and Strategic Plan
—Martin Nicol, ODA
STRATEGIC SESSION BETWEEN
THE EASTERN CAPE NATURAL FIBRE CLUSTER
PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE ( NFC PSC)
&
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
ECDC BOARDROOM, EAST LONDON, 14 April 2011
Project Objective
• “The aim of the Cacadu Fibre Innovation Hub
is straightforward: to create more jobs in the
region using the rich variety of natural fibres
produced locally as raw material inputs.”
– Cacadu District Municipality (2010) Fibre Innovation Hub
Rapid Assessment & Strategic Plan - “Final Report”, report
prepared by ODA 22 June 2010, pp.176., Reference: 5/2/4/24
March – June
2010 2010
ODA’s Brief – March
– June
• Came from the Cacadu District Municipality
• Was to undertake a rapid assessment of the
Cacadu Fibre Innovation Hub
– Review the state of current projects linked to the
proposed hub.
– Present recommendations for the next phase of
the project.
– Build upon the considerable work already done on
the fibre innovation hub concept.
[#04 – Feb 2009]
Future EC Fibre Hub
PSC:
The scope of the assessment
Current PSC:
Eastern Cape Fibre
1Chairperson: Mr K Bern
(ECDC)
2Co-chair : Ms M Mama (CDM)
3Scriber : Mrs S Slement (CSIR)
4Mr D Magxwalisa (CDM)
5Mr B Bovula (DEDEA)
6Mrs B Vabaza (ECDC)
7CSIR
v
Innovation
CSIR / CDM
FibreHub
Innovation Hub Project,
Provincial Steering
Contract
for Funding
Committee
(signed September 2008)
Leaf Fibre
PROGRAMMES
Beneficiation
Programme
Industrial Dev.
Projects –
Working Groups
Animal Fibre
Bast Fibre
Beneficiation
Beneficiation
Programme
Programme
Agave
Americana
Pineapple
Wool
Leaf Fibre
& Mohair
Beneficiation
Beneficiation
Fibres
1ECDC
2NNIP
3CSIR
4Private Sector
Interest
1Ikhwezi
LM
2Cacadu D M
3EC DoA
Western Region
4ECDC
5Mohair SA
6Cape Wools SA
7CSIR
1ECDC
2Camdeboo LM
3Cacadu DM
4Farmers
5CSIR
6ARC-IIC
7ECDoA
•DEDEA
•ECDoA
•DoA
•CDM
•CSIR
•ECDC
•EU/DBSA/IDC
•The dti, DoA
•ARC-IIC
Flax, Hemp,
•Cashmere
Project managed
by
[Hemp
Goat
the
CSIR
Foundation
Beneficiation
1ECDoA
2CSIR
3Mhlontlo LM
of SA Working
Group]
• Project overseen1ECDoA
by
2CSIR
Other
3Indalo Farmer
a multi-stakeholder
stakeholders
that
Cooperative
are targeted to
4 ARC-IIC
join:
Project Steering
5Dept of Health
6Dept of Agric
4DEDEA
7Fort
Hare & Fort Cox
Committee (PSC)
5ECDC
8Private sector interest
6Cashmere
Cooperative
Fibre Innovation Hub
– Organisational
Framework 2009
[#04 – Feb 2009]
Current PSC:
Eastern Cape Fibre
Innovation Hub
Provincial Steering
Committee
Assessment
Leaf Fibre
PROGRAMMES
Beneficiation
Programme
Industrial Dev.
Projects –
Working Groups
•DEDEA
•ECDoA
•DoA
•CDM
•CSIR
•ECDC
•EU/DBSA/IDC
•The dti, DoA
•ARC-IIC
1Chairperson: Mr K Bern
(ECDC)
2Co-chair : Ms M Mama (CDM)
3Scriber : Mrs S Slement (CSIR)
4Mr D Magxwalisa (CDM)
5Mr B Bovula (DEDEA)
6Mrs B Vabaza (ECDC)
7CSIR
Animal Fibre
Bast Fibre
Beneficiation
Beneficiation
Programme
Programme
Agave
Americana
Pineapple
Wool
Cashmere
Leaf Fibre
& Mohair
Beneficiation
Beneficiation
Fibres
Goat
Beneficiation
1ECDC
2NNIP
3CSIR
4Private Sector
Interest
1Ikhwezi
LM
2Cacadu D M
3EC DoA
Western Region
4ECDC
5Mohair SA
6Cape Wools SA
7CSIR
1ECDC
2Camdeboo LM
3Cacadu DM
4Farmers
5CSIR
6ARC-IIC
7ECDoA
Future EC Fibre Hub
PSC:
1ECDoA
2CSIR
3Mhlontlo LM
Flax, Hemp,
[Hemp
Foundation
of SA Working
Group]
Other
stakeholders that
are targeted to
join:
4DEDEA
5ECDC
6Cashmere
Cooperative
•The Fibre Innovation Hub is WIDER than the assessment
1ECDoA
2CSIR
3Indalo Farmer
Cooperative
4 ARC-IIC
5Dept of Health
6Dept of Agric
7Fort Hare & Fort Cox
8Private sector interest
CSIR / CDM Contract strengths
1. Provided space for research to ‘find out the
way’ – emphasis on the need for innovation
2. Gave a clear leadership role to the CSIR – a
recognised, expert institution.
3. Was inclusive – recognised the need for role
players beyond the CDM and the need for
partnerships.
CSIR / CDM Contract weaknesses
1. Had a research, not a business emphasis;
commercial considerations secondary.
2. CSIR was “both player and referee”
3. PSC comprised busy people with other work
commitments
Contract Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
1. Provided space for
research to ‘find out the
way’ – emphasis on the
need for innovation
2. Gave a clear leadership
role to the CSIR – a
recognised, expert
institution.
3. Was inclusive – recognised
the need for role players
beyond the CDM and the
need for partnerships.
Weaknesses
1. Had a research, not a
business emphasis;
commercial considerations
secondary.
2. CSIR was “both player and
referee”
3. PSC comprised busy people
with other work
commitments
Time Issues
• The initial funding contribution by CDM was R1.5 million –
paid in the 2008/09 financial year
• The project had a three-year term.
• Provision made for CDM to contribute R1.5-m a year, if
concrete projects were put forward. (3-year potential CDM
total of R4.5-m)
Sept08
2008/9
Sept11
Mar10
2009/10
2010/11
Assessment
Other Funders (for wider EC natural fibre projects)
• CSIR
• DEDEA / Province (via the ECDC)
• Departments of Agriculture / ARC
2011/12
Research Phase of the Assessment
• CSIR
• ECDC
• CDM
Slight Contact:
AIDC
SAWGA
Rhodes
Agave Nectar SA
• NNIP
• NMMU
– Regional Innovation Forum
– Applied Design
• Mohair SA
• Wool SA
Initial Conclusions
• Researchers had not
been “lucky”.
• Several setbacks,
beyond the control of
the project
• Very few new jobs
•
•
•
•
•
• Agave Distillers closed (core of Agave
complex)
• Pineapples re-directed away from
textiles
• Misunderstandings on mohair delayed
integration with earlier LM initiatives
BUT – one outstanding example: Pineapples / NNIP
Strongly directed strategy, well-supported by government (ECDC)
Production links from farmers to factory – (inc black farmers)
Innovative research leading to innovative business plans
Lesson: Need to use the whole resource – no waste, process residues.
Workshop
• CSIR said the report was too bleak – the potential is
still there for fibres to play a catalytic role in the
economies of the Eastern Cape
• There is a need for a fibre hub “entity” to be formed –
but this needs a ‘champion’, a person with enthusiasm
and inspiration to co-ordinate and drive activities.
• Workshop pointed to the need for projects to be driven
by commercial viability, supported by research ( need
for a revised structure).
• Don’t focus only on ‘fibre’ but on the full use of the
whole natural resource.
Recommendations taken forwards
1. To separate the ‘research’ tasks from the ‘business
development tasks’ and to make new business
development, leading to jobs, the focus, supported by
research.
2. To appoint a Cluster co-ordinator to act as a “champion”
who could help the working groups in the different areas
to find a practical way forward in each case.
3. To redefine the role of the steering committee so that it
will oversee progress and intervene when progress is not
made according to plans, but leave the implementation
details to the working groups (which will each include the
private sector).
4. To learn lessons from the last 2 and more years – why the
NNIP has been successful in the Pineapple sector, and
how the other sectors can learn from its example.