There’s a quiet revolution being plotted in Pretoria. A group of local scientists is working to fundamentally change South African society. And information and communications technology (ICT) is providing the tools for the revolution. Laurens Cloete, acting executive director at the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) Meraka Institute, is convinced that the strategic research, development and application of ICT can not only help South Africa become a more equitable and just nation, but also provide the springboard for the country to participate in the global knowledge economy.

Effective investment in ICT research, development and application can trigger both substantial social development and powerful economic growth, he argues. To achieve these goals, Cloete contends, South Africa must beef up its local research, extend and strengthen its research infrastructure, and train and develop more top-flight researchers. “We can be a participant in the global knowledge economy or just an observer – the choice is ours,” he says.