Press Release: Key Speech by Hon. Naledi Pandor at the TT100 Awards Evening at the end of November

Press Release: Key Speech by Hon. Naledi Pandor at the TT100 Awards Evening at the end of November 

The Da Vinci TT100 Awards Programme will be taking place at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on November 26, with a keynote speech by the Minister of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Hon. Naledi Pandor. Launched in 1991 by founder Prof Roy Marcus, the TT100 Awards programme has been recognising technological and innovation excellence in South African and global companies for more than 23 years.

TT100 has enjoyed strong government endorsement since 1994, with the Department of Science and Technology emerging as the main sponsor of the awards. It renewed its commitment in 2005, and the Minister issued an official mandate to utilise the TT100 Awards Programme to further develop technology and innovation in South Africa by promoting South Africa’s role models for the Management of Technology and Innovation.

Entrants of the TT100 Awards Programme include a wide spectrum of operations across diversified industries. They exemplify those who through passion, perseverance and a highly developed sense of innovation, have defied all odds, and have become recognised as significant players in the local and global economy. These organisations are recognised as sustainable, high-performance operations.

The programme is open to any organisation - emerging, small, medium or large, which has been operational for more than one year. Early in November, the TT100 adjudicating panel met to decide on the final winners in the TT100 Awards Programme. The adjudication process is both lengthy and rigorous whereby registered entrants need to complete a comprehensive questionnaire in the first round.  If successful, the entrants then present to a panel of adjudicators in the second round. 

This year, TT100 saw over 20 credible adjudicators give of their time, voluntarily and without remuneration.  Many adjudicators state that the inspiration they receive from our country’s remarkable innovators during these gruelling sessions, is the main reason that they volunteer to adjudicate year after year. The adjudication team is made up of independent and high-profile academics, captains of industry and business professionals.  The combination of expertise from various industries and sectors ensures transparency and consistency in the process.

Categories across the Emerging and Established sectors include awards for:

·         Excellence in the Management of Technology

·         Excellence in the Management of Innovation

·         Excellence in the Management of People

·         Excellence in the Management of Systems

·         The Director-General’s Award for Overall Excellence in Emerging Enterprises

·         The Minister’s Award for Overall Excellence in Established Enterprises

·         The Minister’s Award for Sustainable Development

Ms Marlize Schwar, one of the adjudicators this year said, “Companies are more aware of the TT100 Programme and the significance that it can bring to their business.  The companies that repeatedly enter the programme take away aspects to work on and improve over the next year as they focus on those areas.“

As South Africa’s benchmark of business excellence, TT100 is raising awareness of the critical need for companies to embrace the Management of Technology, Innovation and People in a sustainable manner. It offers companies the opportunity to measure their achievements against the best in the country and to showcase their exciting technological and innovative initiatives to the nation, regardless of the industries they operate in.

The final winners will be announced at the annual Awards Ceremony to be held on the 26th of November at the Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria.

Ends

Contact

Bronwen Kramer

Communications Manager: TT100

Bronwen@davinci.ac.za / 071 461 7110

Storm Thomas

Communications Manager: The Da Vinci Institute

Storm@davinci.ac.za / 011 608 1331

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