BLACK INDUSTRIALISTS – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT FUNDING
Industrial Development Think Tank: Policy Briefing Paper 17[1] Thando Vilakazi[2] Introduction Too little of the discourse on an economic growth strategy for South Africa has focused on addressing barriers to entry and putting in place mechanisms for ensuring effective participation of black-owned firms and small and medium enterprises in established value chains. The focus from […]
AN EFFECTIVE ONLINE RETAIL STRATEGY WILL ALLOW SA TO CATCH UP WITH BIG GUNS
Industrial Development Think Tank: Policy Briefing Paper 13[1] Sha’ista Goga Introduction The rise of online retail internationally has raised an apocalyptic spectre of empty malls, dying city centres, local factory closures and rising unemployment. It also evokes images of a de-personalised landscape in which electronic orders are processed at automated warehouses and boxes of goods […]
TALK OF A FOURTH REVOLUTION IS ALMOST MEANINGLESS WITHOUT CHEAPER DATA
Industrial Development Think Tank Policy Brief 14[1] Simon Roberts and Nimrod Zalk Introduction The recent focus on the price and quality of data services in SA has been on their impact on consumers. These prices are high. For example, mobile prepaid prices from the major networks, at close to R150/GB, are about three times higher […]
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGIES TO BOOST EXPORTS IN THE FRUIT INDUSTRY
Industrial Development Think Tank: Policy Brief 15[1] Shingie Chisoro Introduction Opening an exhibition on the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) at Parliament recently, the Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, stressed that South Africa plans to use the 4IR opportunities to deal with poverty, unemployment and inequality – but also that the country needs new […]
BUILDING TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITIVENESS AND DEEPENING THE AUTO SUPPLY CHAIN THROUGH PLASTIC AUTO COMPONENTS: WHAT SOUTH AFRICA CAN LEARN FROM THAILAND
Industrial Development Think Tank: Policy Brief 16[1] Lorenza Monaco[2], Jason F Bell and Julius Nyamwena[3] Introduction If South Africa aims to build technologically competitive niches and deepen the automotive supply chain, a suggested option is to explore the potential for technological upgrading and localisation in plastic auto components. In this regard, looking at the path […]
INDUSTRIAL POLICIES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
Industrial Development Think Tank: Policy Briefing Paper 17[1] Thando Vilakazi[2] Introduction Too little of the discourse on an economic growth strategy for South Africa has focused on addressing barriers to entry and putting in place mechanisms for ensuring effective participation of black-owned firms and small and medium enterprises in established value chains. The focus from […]
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 4 Justin Barnes[1] and Lisa Higginson[2] Introduction The food processing industry is predominantly characterised by high production volumes and low profit margins. Rising regulatory pressure, commodity price increases, more demanding consumer expectations and economic uncertainties are driving large food companies to search for new ways to optimise manufacturing processes and access […]
REPOSITIONING THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHEMICALS INDUSTRY
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 5 Justin Barnes[1] and John White[2] Industry Background The global chemicals sector grew at a healthy 6% on average over the period 2006 to 2015. However, China contributed most of this growth, growing at an average 18% per year. As a result, its share of global chemicals production grew from 13% […]
AN E-COMMERCE REVOLUTION IN RETAIL?
Sha’ista Goga[1] and Anthea Paelo[2] Introduction The purchase of goods or services over the internet, is changing the nature of retailing. This is commonly referred to as e-commerce or online retail. It has benefitted consumers by providing increased choice and variety. However, the alternative business models and lower cost structures have led to concern over […]
REPOSITIONING THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CLOTHING AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 7 Robert Stewart[1] Introduction The terms digitalisation, “Industry 4.0” or “factory of the future” are used interchangeably to broadly describe the increasing potential to integrate the parts of the manufacturing value chain with the aid of digitalisation. There are multiple ways to approach this topic and this briefing document describes these […]
DIGITAL DISRUPTIONS IN THE YELLOW METALS INDUSTRY: THE ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 8 Justin Barnes[1] and Mbongeni Ndlovu [2] Introduction The Yellow Metals industry is undergoing profound transformation. Rapid technology advances such as telematics and remote monitoring, hybrid powertrain technology, and autonomous vehicles have recently emerged to challenge the status quo. Furthermore, the combination of technology advances and increasing refinement of customer preferences […]
THE CAPE TOWN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 9 John Stuart[1] and Anthony Black[2] Overview of the Cape Town software development cluster The Cape Town ICT sector is a globalised and leading services sector within Africa. Many firms in the sector – not just the large multinationals – have international investors, clients, financiers, suppliers and partners. The sector is […]
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS FACTORY
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 10 Pamela Mondliwa[1] and Lorenza Monaco[2] Introduction The major disruptive technological changes in the plastic industry can be distinguished in terms of digitalisation, materials science, additive manufacturing even while we recognise that their effects are closely inter-related. These changes taken together are transforming the plastics factory. This transformation has implications not […]
MANAGING THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
Digital Industrial Policy Brief 11 Anthony Black[1] Introduction Until quite recently, the automotive industry was characterised by relatively mature, established technologies. With the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) and more recently the prospect of self-driving cars, the sector is now at the cutting edge of global technological developments. The advent of electric vehicles is set […]