Increasing Footprint of Innovation

The Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Regional Innovation Support Programme (RISP) is one of the Department’s initiatives that aims to strengthen regional (sub-national) innovation systems. The programme is intended to increase the spatial footprint of innovation in South Africa in partnership with regional stakeholders, especially in previously underserved regions. RISP is managed and implemented for the DSI through a Programme Management Unit within the CSIR.

The RISP initiatives are designed to support the creation of an enabling environment for innovation within a particular location, through interventions that are intended to capacitate the people in these areas to meaningfully participate in the knowledge economy. It is envisaged that the initiatives will be tailored to address the needs of the socio-economic context of the relevant region, and should demonstrate alignment with local and provincial growth and development plans and strategies including Provincial Development Plans.