Prof Rasmus Lema Interim Chairholder Prof Fiona Tregena Outgoing Chairholder The DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development produces research that contributes to sustainable industrialisation and economic development in South Africa, across Africa, and globally. The research focus on three core areas: high-quality and impactful research, capacity-building and development, and policy and public engagement. 2025 research continued to examine key barriers to industrial development, including limited infrastructure, weak productive capabilities, technological constraints, and reliance on primary industries. A central theme has been sustainable industrial development, including research on critical minerals, green manufacturing, resource efficiency, low-carbon technologies, circular economies, sustainable supply chains, and energy-efficient production. The Chair produced approximately 28 Research Output Units (ROUs) in 2025, submitted for the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) subsidy where applicable. Research outputs were disseminated through national and international conferences, keynote lectures, and workshops, contributing both to academic knowledge and to policy debate. Prof Tregenna (former chairholder) continued to play a prominent role in economic policy engagement and intellectual leadership. She was re-appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Presidential Economic Advisory Panel (PEAC), where she contributes to national economic policy discussions. She also serves on several global policy initiatives, including the International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development and the Panel of External Experts on the United Nations Global Policy Model, and was invited by Nobel Prizewinning economist Joseph Stiglitz to participate in a task force of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue. All activities align closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to inclusive industrialisation and sustainable economic development. Central to the Chair’s research agenda is SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which focuses on industrial development, technological upgrading, and innovation. This work also contributes directly to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, recognising industrialisation as a key pathway to sustainable growth and employment creation. The Chair’s research further engages with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action, including work on clean energy transitions and green industrialisation. Additional contributions are made to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through research on small and micro enterprises in urban contexts, and local economic development more broadly. Cross-cutting themes within the research also support SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 1: No Poverty, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, while the Chair’s extensive collaborations advance SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Key highlights of the year included the third wave of data collection for SARChI-ID’s survey on micro- and small-manufacturing enterprises in Johannesburg, which examines drivers of innovation, employment creation, and persistence of innovative behaviour. SARCHI INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT (SARCHI-ID) SARChI-ID also played an important role as the African Regional Partner for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) Industrial Development Report (IDR) 2026, leading the Africa component of the report. In addition, SARChI-ID partnered in the regional launch of the Industrial Development Report 2024 at the Industrial Development Corporation in Johannesburg. The Chair hosted, co-hosted, or partnered in several major events, numerous seminars, webinars, and book launches during the year, including: The Fifth Young Scholars Conference on Structural Change and Industrial Policy in Africa, the Industrial Policy for Policy Makers (IPPM) programme. The Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) Annual Forum. The Rethinking Economics for Africa (REFA) Festival. Minister Gwede Mantashe delivered the Second Elijah Barayi Memorial Lecture, a significant annual public event hosted by SARChI-ID in partnership with the DEL. The biweekly Industrial Development and Policy Seminar Series (IDPSS). SARChI-ID, together with UNIDO and the Industrial Development Corporation, hosted the regional launch of the IDR 2024 in Johannesburg. Fifth Young Scholars Conference on Structural Change and Industrial Policy in Africa. The Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) Annual Forum Minister Gwede Mantashe delivered the Second Elijah Barayi Memorial Lecture, a significant annual public event hosted by SARChI-ID in partnership with the DEL 42 43 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025
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