The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande launched the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) on Monday, 25 March in Pretoria. The commercialisation and innovation fund is an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The HEIF is a transformative initiative to empower student innovators and tech-entrepreneurs from TVET colleges and historically disadvantaged universities. More than just a fund, the HEIF represents a beacon of hope in addressing youth unemployment, inequality, and poverty by fostering the growth of the knowledge economy. It provides essential support to innovative minds, enabling them to transition from ideas to sustainable enterprises, with a particular focus on spotlighting small businesses as pivotal job creators in our nation.
This article was first published on 25 March by the Department of Science and Innovation South Africa