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Unisa strengthens global ties in science and innovation

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A delegation from Unisa, INRS Quebec-Canada, iThemba LABS/NRF, the Western Cape Government and the High Commission of Canada in South Africa

Unisa and the Canada-Quebec National Institute for Scientific Research (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – INRS) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that not only extends the university’s international footprint but also cements the cooperation between the INRS and the UNESCO-Unisa-iThemba LABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies.

The MoU will also strengthen collaboration between these organisations and the Quebec-INRS Chair in Plasma and Micro/Nanoelectronics, thus, around nanoscience and nanotechnologies, to address societal challenges while preparing the multi-skilled workforce of tomorrow.

The signing took place at the Provincial Legislature Building in Cape Town, in the presence of the Honourable Christopher Skeete (Canada-Quebec Minister of International Relations and  Francophonie), the Honourable Anroux Marais (Western Cape Provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety), Prof Puleng LenkaBula (Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor), Prof Mpho Ngoepe (Unisa’s Acting Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation), the Honourable Iya Touré (Quebec representative in Africa), as well as Drs Rudzani Nemutudi and Mlungisi Nkosi (representatives of iThemba LABS and the National Research Foundation).

Initiated in 2005, the collaboration between the Canada-Quebec INRS-EMT Laboratory Micro and Nanofabrication and the Nanosciences African Network, hosted by NRF iThemba LABS and Unisa, enabled a long-term partnership between the organisations. Since then, several sound scientific, technical and human capital actions have been implemented, yielding a sustainable set of deliveries. These include the following:

  • Two projects
  • Seventeen joint scientific publications
  • Nineteen senior scientific visits
  • Five junior scientific exchanges
  • One joint workshop
  • Six joint presentations in international conferences
  • Two postgraduates
  • One potential joint postdoctoral fellowship
  • Donation of a world-class XPS research facility located in the Western Cape Province, worth R14.7 million
  • Two strategic nanotechnologies: CO2 footprint minimisation nanotechnology, and smart windows for green air-con nanotechnology for the building/automotive sector and space applications.

To further cement this partnership, the African Centre of Competencies in Enhanced Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies (ACCENTS) for Sustainable Development Goals will be implemented as a joint INRS-Unisa Centre. 

* By Professor Malik Maaza, UNESCO-Unisa-iThemba LABS/NRF Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, College of Graduate Studies

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Publish date: 2025/11/12

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