College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023 48 Prof Erika Kreamer Chair DSI/NRF/NEWTON FUND TRILATERAL CHAIR IN TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATION, 4IR AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW The Trilateral Chair is an international collaboration between the University of Johannesburg, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya and the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex in the UK. We are delighted to share the remarkable journey of the Research Chair in 2023. Our commitment to quality and relevance in research and innovation has been the cornerstone of our accomplishments. We have seen our efforts consolidate around six pivotal themes: (1) Digital Transformation, (2) Green and Just Transitions, (3) Hidden Forms of Innovation, (4) Innovation and Well-being, (5) Governance of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) systems, and (6) Innovation and the Economy. These themes have guided our research and provided a solid framework for addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Each day, our collective dedication to advancing knowledge, fostering inclusivity, and driving meaningful change grows stronger. As we continue this remarkable journey, I am filled with gratitude for your unwavering support and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we are making a profound impact on our world. TALENT MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING Building the capacity of our postgraduate students and early career researchers continues to be our main priority. In 2023, we deepened our collaboration with GLOBELICS and AFRICALICS, long-standing partners of the Chair, to train PhD students. We host a programme for our international students on Frugal Innovation with the international Centre for Frugal Innovation. As part of the effort to build the capacity of emerging scholars, the UJ-TRCTI annually welcomes undergraduate students doing a course on Frugal Innovation at the international Centre for Frugal Innovation (the Netherlands). The Trilateral Chair offers regular capacity-building opportunities for students and emerging scholars through its series of internal seminars and events: such as the brownbag session, the conversations with authors and various seminars and workshops delivered by our visiting scholars and targeting the needs of our students. In 2023 we hosted 11 internal capacity building events. In November 2023, we Launched a regular ‘Publication Clinic’ to enhance publication skills of our students and emerging scholars, navigating the publication process, fostering collaboration, and promoting ethical publishing through constructive feedback and suggestions to enhance the quality of manuscripts. Students in the PhD academy participated in a policy hackathon, which provided an immersive experience where students could apply their research skills, creativity, and knowledge to address real-world policy challenges. The hackathon was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF), the SADC Secretariat and TIP-SA. During the event, participants were grouped into teams and tasked with developing innovative policy solutions to implement the SADC STI Protocol within a limited timeframe. The culmination of the hackathon was the presentation of results at the Science Forum South Africa, an influential platform for discussing scientific and technological Staff also attended the UJ development programmes.
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