Identifying the strength and weaknesses of the South African tech-based industries: Insights from the Swiss South African business development programme

Abstract

Previous studies have considered the importance of technological development to economic growth, which lead to more research on policy interventions that would promote innovation and technological development. However, developing new technologies without a vehicle or mechanism to deliver the technologies to the marketplace implies that the impact of new innovations and technologies will be limited. Consequently, research that investigates the development of tech-entrepreneurs, the conduits who deliver new technologies to the market place, forms a crucial component in developing policies that link innovation to economic growth in today’s modern, knowledge-based economies. This study therefore considers the outcome of the training provided by the Swiss-South African Venture Leader Programme. By using the results from the Tech-Entrepreneurship Survey, which was administered by the authors, this study provides a review of South African tech-entrepreneurs’ views on tech-based concepts, South African tech-based industries within a global framework, as well as the tech-entrepreneurs’ reflections on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the South African tech-based sector. The latter views provide an insight for policymakers as to areas where the South African tech-based sector can be assisted.