Enabling healthinnovation
that turns your ideas into action.
Making sure it's possible.
Driving Health Innovation in South Africa
At the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), we understand there is no shortage of remarkable ideas or people. We enable local innovations to scale for business, drive efficiencies, improve speed to market, reduce costs, and support the needs of society.
Through meaningful partnerships and business relationships, we support and empower nuclear medicine research and drug development, the manufacturing of vaccines and active pharmaceutical ingredients, and tests used for diagnostics, as well as harness indigenous knowledge for product development.
Take your business to the next level by accessing local innovations to grow the health industry.
Key Health Innovation Programmes
Discover our flagship initiatives that are transforming healthcare and medical research in South Africa.
NuMeRI
Imaging and therapeutic facility that diagnoses and treats diseases early.
Innovative imaging equipment is the next generation in diagnosis and treatment. It uses the same molecule, which informs drug development and clinical research to improve access to quality healthcare. Early and accurate diagnosis informs the correct course of treatment for diseases such as cancer, infections such as tuberculosis (TB) and heart disease.
Working with NuMeRi allows us to make this important technology available to public and private hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies, and medical practitioners, both locally and internationally.
DIPLOMICS
Building world-class Omics facilities to support students and researchers in Omics sciences.
The bioeconomy is an important sector for economic and social development. We support industries that enable human health, as well as plant, animal, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation.
This is done by providing support through laboratory infrastructure, technician training, and access to Omics information and data. DIPLOMICS is a national network of research and service labs for the Omics community, supporting precision medicine and enabling effective treatment.
BIOVAC
Develop and manufacture vaccines locally.
To reduce our dependence on imports, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is building capacity to supply vaccines locally and across borders to strengthen national health management and security.
Through public-private partnerships with Biovac and other pharmaceutical companies, we aim to re-establish local vaccine manufacturing capability through manufacturing partnerships, research and development. To all pharmaceutical companies involved in commercial and product development in the vaccines and biological industry, let's work together to create a more independent Africa.
Indigenous Knowledge Development
Unlocking indigenous knowledge to innovate products in health, beauty, and nutrition.
The Indigenous Knowledge Programme promotes, develops and protects indigenous knowledge systems by providing research and development product support in the health, beauty, and nutrition sectors.
We aim to unlock the value of indigenous plant species for commercial development and pharmaceutical industrialisation, while safeguarding the unique knowledge, methods, technologies, and innovations developed by communities. We offer research, product development, technologies, services, and process development of indigenous products.
Ready to Innovate in Healthcare?
Partner with us to bring your health innovation to life. We're here to support your journey from idea to impact.