2nd Africa Technology Transfer Conference Feedback

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2nd Africa Technology Transfer ConferenceFeedback

• S. Oloo
• KZN Department of Transport

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Outline

• What are T2 Centres
• 1st Africa T2 Conference
• 2nd Africa T2 Conference
• Format of Sessions
• Attendance Statistics
• Resolutions Outcomes
• Evaluation Results

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Technology Transfer Centres

• Wealth of knowledge, information, expertise on
  roads transportation in isolated parts of the
  world.
• Knowledge, information, expertise lacking in
  other parts.
• Need for information exchange and capacity
  building
• T2 Centres formed to address issue.

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Where are T2 Centres

• Various states in USA
• Former Eastern Europe
• Latin America
• Africa

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T2 Centres in S. Africa

• SANRAL on behalf of NDoT
• CSIR Built Environment
• KZN Department of Transport

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KZN T2 Centre

• Technical Training
• Research Laboratory
• Infrastructure Management Systems
• National International Linkages

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1st Africa T2 Conference

• Held in Arusha, Tanzania in May 2001
• Decision made to hold similar conferences in
  other African countries every 2 years.
• 2nd Africa T2 conference should have been held in
  South Africa in 2003
• Because of XXII PIARC in Durban 2003, 2nd Africa
  conference postponed to 2005.

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2nd Africa T2 Conference

• Where Pietermarizburg
• When 21 23 September 2005
• Host KZN Department of Transport

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Conference Themes Topics

• Technology Transfer Challenges and
  Opportunities
• Sustainability of T2 Centres
• Marketing technology transfer
• Knowledge and information sharing
• Collaboration in technology transfer activities

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Conference Themes Topics

• Socio-economic aspects in Transportation
• Public/stakeholder participation
• Education and community based training
• Transportation initiatives for community
  empowerment
• Environmental issues

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Conference Themes Topics

• Integrated Transport Planning and Management
• Inter-modal transport
• Regional transport issues
• Transportation in integrated development planning
  (IDP)
• Public private partnerships
• Road management initiatives

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Conference Themes Topics

• Appropriate Innovations in Transportation
• Labour based construction and maintenance
• Low cost sealing of roads
• Innovations in pavement design
• Intelligent transport systems
• Road management systems

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Format of Sessions

• Day 1
• Opening (AM)
• Technical tours (PM)
• Day 2 3
• Plenary session (830 930 am)
• 2 Break-away sessions (rest of the day)
• Day 4
• 2 Break-away sessions (830 1030 am)
• Resolutions Closing ( 1100 Lunch)

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Attendance Statistics

• About 300 delegates attended the conference.
• 35 overseas delegates.
• 14 different countries were represented from
  Africa, US, Europe and India.
• A reasonable number of non-technical delegates
  attended.
• 18 exhibitors at the conference covering a wide
  sphere of activities.

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Resolutions Outcomes

• Delegates felt that issue of access in rural
  communities needed serious attention.
• Appropriate standards that will encourage
  sustainable rural access should be looked for.
• Transportation needs of rural woman are unique
  and require specialised studies to inform the
  provision of appropriate infrastructure.

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Resolutions Outcomes

• Mr Nazir Alli the CEO of SANRAL to be the guest
  speaker at the 2006 International Transportation
  Symposium in Florida, USA
• KZN T² Centre to sign a collaborative agreement
  to promote technological exchange with Colorado
  LTAP after the conference.

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Resolutions Outcomes

• T² Centres in collaboration with other research
  organisation to look at appropriate and practical
  technology to assist in the provision of
  infrastructure
• The average age of experienced technical people
  is high therefore we need to encourage transfer
  of knowledge from older to younger technical
  people .

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Resolutions Outcomes

• In order for Road Authorities to manage road
  infrastructure effectively they should put at
  least a basic road management system in place
• Publication of research findings should be
  encouraged to improve SAs research output
  nationally and internationally.

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Evaluation Results

• Overwhelming majority of participants were
  positive about the organization management of
  the conference.
• On the down side
• there should have been more time for discussions
• number of papers could be reduced

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Thank you