“ It will ensure the production of high-level skills , necessary for the development of a sustainable innovative industry .”
An artist ’ s impression of what the interior of the velodrome at Pietermaritzburg ’ s tech hub could look like .
the MTB competition for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is already going to be staged here , there is a very good chance that track could be included in the Games programme . And if that be the case , then all cycling disciplines could be staged here in Pietermaritzburg — in Africa ’ s Bike City .” He did , however , voice concerns about the delays the Pietermaritzburg project had experienced . “ If the centre is not built none of these elements can happen .”
The sky ’ s the limit
The multi-sports facility is indeed an exciting part of this development . However , the core theme of aviation at the Pietermaritzburg hub suggests that the sky truly could be the limit for this project . If done properly , it could feasibly make Pietermaritzburg an important aviation centre in the country . “ The Pietermaritzburg tech hub has a strong influence of attracting business that is linked to the aviation industry ,” said the project director for the four KZN tech hubs at the time , Basil Karstadt of GWI Project Managers , who explained that the Pietermaritzburg development was “ focused on innovation , technology and research , as well as job creation .” “ The aviation focus has resulted in us working closely with higher education institutions because they would be a catalyst for other investors and tenants to locate their businesses within the tech hub ,” he said . Durban University of Technology ( DUT ) is a key organisation that had expressed interest in being a part of the Pietermaritzburg tech hub during the early planning stages , and which Gengan says is still on board . “ The Vice-Chancellor [ of DUT ] recently reported that the university is centrally engaged in deliberations with the Department of Economic Development in KwaZulu-Natal and key
“ It will ensure the production of high-level skills , necessary for the development of a sustainable innovative industry .”
role players on the establishment of an aerospace technology and innovation hub adjacent to the Pietermaritzburg Airport in Pietermaritzburg ,” confirmed Professor Gerhard Prinsloo of DUT ’ s Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit , at the time . “ DUT ’ s key interest in the development of a tech hub has two elements that will hopefully feed into each other ,” Prinsloo explained .
Aviation school and R & D
The first was to be the development of a broad-based aviation school attached to the university ’ s Midlands centre based in Pietermaritzburg . It would primarily be linked to DUT ’ s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment , and to its Faculty of Management Sciences . This would allow for the attainment of aviation-specific qualifications . This aviation school would also interface with other areas of the tech hub , such as the flight school , aircraft maintenance programme , and the training of flight controllers . The second element — and an aspect that Prinsloo said is of significant interest to DUT — was the development of a strategic research and development operation at the tech hub related to all aspects of the aviation industry . “ The R & D facility will be conceptualised as a ‘ mode 2-type ’ facility based on research and innovation partnerships between the private sector , public sector , the science councils and higher education . It will be a centre for global research and will draw on international best practice in the deployment of technology hubs in the manoeuvering of knowledge production , technology development and technology transfer towards commercialisation , whilst simultaneously establishing an indigenous knowledge system related to the aviation sector ,” he explained . “ The DUT facility ,” Prinsloo continued , “ together with the
Capital | Issue 2 | 27 .