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Abstract
Previous studies have considered the importance of technological development to economic growth, which lead to more research on policy interventions that would promote innovation and technological development. However, developing new technologies without a vehicle or mechanism to deliver the technologies to the marketplace implies that the impact of new innovations and technologies will be limited. Consequently, research that investigates the development of tech-entrepreneurs, the conduits who deliver new technologies to the market place, forms a crucial component in developing policies that link innovation to economic growth in today’s modern, knowledge-based economies. This study therefore considers the outcome of the training provided by the Swiss-South African Venture Leader Programme. By using the results from the Tech-Entrepreneurship Survey, which was administered by the authors, this study provides a review of South African tech-entrepreneurs’ views on tech-based concepts, South African tech-based industries within a global framework, as well as the tech-entrepreneurs’ reflections on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the South African tech-based sector. The latter views provide an insight for policymakers as to areas where the South African tech-based sector can be assisted.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the survey respondents as well as the Technology Innovation Agency.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 The DST established the Technology Innovation Agency (the TIA) and is a single public agency that was formed from a merger of seven DST-funded organizations, namely, BRICs (Lifelab, BioPAD, Cape Biotech), Plantbio, Tshumisano, the Innovation Fund and AMTS (Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy).The TIA is involved in several fields, i.e. industrial biotech, agriculture, health, mining, energy, advanced manufacturing technologies and information and communication technologies (Msomi Citation2009).
2 Moreover, Uctu and Jafta (Citation2014) focuse on bio-entrepreneurship training programmes, whereas this particular study focuses on broader tech-entrepreneurship programmes.
3 Given South Africa’s apartheid legacy of lack of opportunities for black people, the national government and society as a whole aim to rectify this situation by employing affirmative action, not only in terms of employment but also in terms of access to opportunities. This matter is expanded on in great depth by the dti (Citation2017).
4 http://www.venturelab.ch/index.cfm?page=133016, accessed on 18 August 2017.
5 See footnote 2.
6 South Africa has nine provinces, each with its own legislature, premier and executive council, namely the Eastern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, North West and the Western Cape.
7 South African universities are currently facing fee protests from students given rapidly escalating student fees, stagnating national government transfers in real terms and increases in general university expenditures.
8 One participant did not indicate their gender.
9 One participant mentioned that s/he attended both North-West University and UNISA. We reflect this answer by reflecting attendance at both institutions.
10 One participant mentioned that s/he attended university in South Africa but did not mention which university and another participant did not answer the question at all.
11 One participant mentioned that s/he attended both Cape Peninsula University of Technology and ESIEE.
12 One participant is a professor at a university and CEO of a start-up.
13 One participant is a CEO of a company and a general manager of another company. Furthermore, s/he is also an associate for another company.