The Free State Fourth Industrial Revolution Summit on the Bloemfontein campus of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, is envisaged to continue unlocking opportunities in, among other fields, artificial intelligence (AI).
Presented on Thursday (21/07) and Friday, it will be held a second time following the success of the maiden summit in 2019.
This is a partnership initiative between the university and the Free State government. Other partners include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
They have united to unlock technological possibility and advance the youth. The summit’s theme is “Accelerating Economic Growth and Development of the Free State Through Innovative 4IR Technologies for Eradicating Poverty and Unemployment”.
At the media launch held at the Premier’s House in Bloemfontein on Friday (15/07) parties expressed optimism about achieving the goal of unlocking opportunity in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. No less than 500 youth delegates are expected to showcase technological innovations and what they learned during the two years most hampered by the pandemic.
Dr Mafole Mokalobe, acting deputy director general of the Free State government, said the summit’s benefits would be far-reaching.
He indicated that while the pandemic severely impacted on South Africa’s socio-economy, it equally was a future shaping force to embrace and advance the 4IR, as well as AI technologies.
Prof. Alfred Ngowi, acting vice-chancellor and principal of the CUT, said significant strides in terms of implementation have been made since the first event.
He said the summit would further consolidate the gains of the previous one, which had laid a foundation that enabled partners to navigate the pandemic.
Ngowi stated returns were good on financial investments made in 4IR programmes.
“Premier Sisi Ntombela availed R5 million for the development of 4IR programmes and to establish an innovation hub at the CUT.”
