Politics of Sustainable Development CoRE announces launch of South Africa’s SACIT
A new World Economic Forum-affiliated centre will connect policy, research, and practice for greener industrial growth.
The Politics of Sustainable Development Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) is pleased to announce the launch of the South African Centre for Industry and Technology (SACIT) — a new member of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) network.
Hosted by the University of Pretoria (UP), with the University of Cape Town, Wits University, and Walter Sisulu University as academic partners, SACIT forms part of a global network dedicated to advancing technology-led industrial transformation. Although hosted at UP, SACIT will operate as an independent national centre, bringing together expertise and partners from across academia, government, industry, and civil society.
Led by CoRE member Professor Wesley Rosslyn-Smith (Director) together with Thapelo Tladi (Lead: Energy and Materials) and Diana Cochrane-van Eeden (Operations Manager), SACIT aims to become a hub for collaboration between science, policy, and industry. Its goal is to strengthen South Africa’s participation in global innovation networks and advancing sustainability goals across the continent.
For the Politics of Sustainable Development CoRE community, SACIT represents a promising example of how industrial innovation, policy, and sustainability can align — fostering competitiveness and green growth at once. The centre’s thematic focus on Energy and Materials directly complements our CoRE’s research agenda on sustainability transitions, industrial policy for green development, and governance of technological change. Through SACIT, research generated within the CoRE will have a tangible pathway to inform industrial strategy, public policy, and partnerships with industry.
Prof. Wesley Rosslyn-Smith commented: “I believe SACIT can make a strong contribution to CoRE, particularly through its thematic focus on Energy Materials, which has significant potential to engage both industry and government stakeholders.”
Why It Matters for South Africa
SACIT’s launch comes at a crucial time. South Africa’s energy sector is undergoing a system-wide transformation, marked by increasing decentralisation and the urgent need for a more flexible, modern electricity grid capable of supporting a diverse mix of energy sources. Harnessing digital technologies and innovation will be central to this transition — from improving energy management systems to reimagining industrial processes. SACIT aims to support this shift by promoting innovation in energy materials, data analytics, and advanced production systems, while ensuring that industrial modernisation is both inclusive and sustainable.
What is a C4IR Centre?
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) network, established by the World Economic Forum, connects leading national and regional hubs that explore how emerging technologies — from AI and automation to advanced materials and digital manufacturing — can be governed and deployed responsibly. SACIT joins this network as South Africa’s node, ensuring that local innovation priorities are aligned with global best practices.
Read the full announcement here: Home | South Africa Centre for Industry and Technology