Annual Research Report 2020

54 The NCIF’s main aim is to promote innovation for social and eco- nomic development in the Northern Cape through advocacy, net- working and capacity building. The NCIF is an initiative led by the Sol Plaatje Municipality, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Sol Plaatje University (SPU). A consultation process leading up to the establishment of the NCIF garnered the support of several founding organisations, including the Black Management Forum, the Mine Managers Forum, the Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Northern Cape Tourism Authority and the Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs Forum of South Africa. The NCIF came into existence in September 2019 because of the determination and commitment of the key stakeholders who recognise the importance of innovation for bolstering social and economic development in the province. Its establishment coincides with a renewed political focus on finding novel ways to challenge the prevailing approaches and practices for achiev- ing the development goals of the province. The NCIF is hosted and managed by SPU, and funding has been secured from the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit with co-funding from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The following played a vital role in enabling the formalisation of the NCIF: • Engaging key stakeholders in improving the integration of research and coordination among government, academia, business and civil society, and the development of innovative practices in the everyday economic and social life of Northern Cape communities. • Development of a project to ground the advancement of innovation in the Northern Cape where SPU contracted the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to investigate how the province might be able to exploit the benefits of promoting Science, Technology and Innovation for socioeco- nomic transformation. To achieve this goal, NCIF stakeholders conceptualised a research project with reinforcing facets to (a) inform the NCIF Strategy conceptually and operationally, (b) provide baseline information for an evidence-informed Innovation Strategy for Northern Cape, (c) begin to explore prospects for the advancement of innovation in Francis Baard District Municipality, drawing on available frameworks and methodologies developed by the HSRC. • Activating innovation support initiatives such as the Next Gen Hackathon in collaboration with MLab and DVCH and intellec- tual property training and awareness in partnership with the Intellectual Property Commission. The NCIF network is gaining momentum with the current drive to raise awareness, and create partnerships to collaborate in building and driving a sustainable innovation and technology ecosystem in the Northern Cape. Impacting the Northern Cape – NCIF