Chair, President Thabo Mbeki recently inaugurated the Africa Chapter of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology which is housed at the Cape Town Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cape Town, the third such centre in the world after India and Italy.
The centre has received R40 million in funding from the ANC-led government. However, a further R80 million is required in order to ensure that seven research programmes are launched by scientists ahead of 2010. This laboratory will exploit biotechnology and genetic engineering to tackle diseases such as sleeping sickness, bilharzia, malaria and HIV and Aids.
We remain on course in building a caring society where science and technology, amongst other things, will take us forward in becoming part of the knowledge economy. The most technologically advanced economies in the world today are truly knowledge-based. As we increase our investment in research and development, we must ensure unprecedented innovation and ensure that there is no chasm between research and development and products on the market to enhance our citizens' quality of life. I thank you, notwithstanding some noise. [Applause.]