College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2021 46 Prof Erika Kraemer-Mbula Chair: DST/NRF/Newton Fund Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Sustainable Development College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg DST/NRF/Newton Fund Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Sustainable Development OVERVIEW 2021 has been another turbulent year, confirming the importance of reorienting our systems towards low-carbon and social inclusion. The work of the Trilateral Chair has become more relevant than ever before. The Chair embraces its academic responsibility to respond to societal challenges. We are uniquely positioned to provide valuable knowledge to inform the evolving realities of a world in crisis. Several of our members have contributed to the COVID-19 recovery debates by participating in public events, developing research outputs (including the production of an edited volume dedicated to this theme), and directly advising policy processes. Within our team, a year of disruption has become a year of partnerships and growth for our community. We have continued to focus on building the capacity of our students and early career scholars. We have also gained visibility on social media platforms. The Chair has served as a space for active intellectual and policy engagement, with new virtual platforms for our members to interact and learn from each other while remaining connected to current affairs. TALENT MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING TALENT MANAGEMENT 2021 saw new members joining the Chair’s core team as well as new students, postgraduate fellows and visiting scholars. The Chair’s partners at UJ, the African Centre for Technology Studies (Kenya) and the Science and Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, (UK), developed multiple joint training activities throughout the year, strengthening their collaboration and deepening their partnership. The work of the Trilateral Chair has become more relevant than ever before and embraces its academic responsibility to respond to societal challenges.
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