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Global, national, and local experts in a variety of different fields have recently had the opportunity to share cutting-edge knowledge on regional innovation and cluster management.

The newly launched UFS Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures (ICDF), the Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (Sustainable Food Systems and Development), and Economic and Management Sciences (Business Management) attended the week-long virtual workshop facilitated by the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, and the Technopolis Group, a multinational company providing evidence-based policy advice and insights.
 
“It’s quite exciting to team up with two powerful global role players in order to co-create solutions for Africa,” says Herkulaas Combrink, co-director of the ICDF.

The cluster concept

“Most industries have a multitude of stakeholders,” Combrink explains. “In the agriculture industry, for instance, you have farmers, genetics companies, logistics suppliers, government departments, and consumers – who can all potentially work together to create better products that are more effectively produced and distributed.”

In Germany, the term ‘cluster’ refers to a grouping around an industry, and always has a regional connection. Because agriculture is such a key industry in the Free State, and a study field where the UFS has an abundance of skills and experience, the agriculture value chain – and specifically the UFS’ very successful wool production and processing project – was used as a case study during the first workshop that took place virtually from 22 to 26 November 2021.

“Cluster development will help South African farmers to become more sustainable, because in the cluster formation there are different actors, and farmers can learn how to use different approaches and become part of a circular agricultural economy,” says Prof Johan van Niekerk from the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Regional innovation and cluster development in Africa

The idea is to apply German skills in cluster development in the African context, ultimately creating a manual for regional innovation and cluster management development in Africa and the Global South.  

“Although our context is very different from the German one, there is an abundance of lessons we can learn from them,” says Prof Katinka de Wet, the ICDF’s other co-director.
As a sociologist, she found the variety of disciplines and perspectives working towards a common goal particularly meaningful.
“Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the work we do in the ICDF, we bring people from a variety of disciplines and approaches together. In the process, we break down disciplinary boundaries that are sometimes prevalent in the university space, and pave the way for real, practical solutions that can truly impact the communities around us.”

Her sentiments are echoed by Dr Karen Booysen from Economic and Management Sciences, who was a principal investigator on the project with Prof Van Niekerk.
“Although terms such as ‘cooperatives’ are well-known in South Africa, the true advantage of forming clusters, especially in the formal sector, is not yet exploited in SA. In this regard, the University of the Free State can play a significant role in educating communities and unlocking the value of clusters through knowledge gained,” she says.

More workshops in 2022

The workshop will be followed by three more interactions in 2022, which will include job shadowing opportunities in Germany.

Combrink says he is very excited about the high-profile role players who have attended discussions, and about the opportunity to truly learn from the best in the world when it comes to regional innovation and cluster development.
“When the right people are talking to one another, we increase our chances of coming up with innovative solutions.”