icomtek - The CSIR business unit active in information, communications and space technology

Harnessing the power of information, communications and space technology for the benefit of South Africa and the region - that is what drives the people of icomtek. This CSIR unit employs about 200 people who are committed to making a difference by providing real-world solutions achieved through their knowledge and technology.

As one of eight strategic business units of the CSIR, icomtek pilots and demonstrates sustainable technology applications and initiatives for developmental needs. The brainpower at icomtek influences and provides comment and opinion on the appropriateness of technology innovations and practice relating to the information society.

In the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), icomtek is the interface between the NEPAD secretariat and the line programmes of the CSIR for ICT-related matters.

There are three main groupings of research and development activities within icomtek:

1 Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme

The IST Programme accelerates and enables the development and application of information and communications technology for sustainable social and economic development in South Africa and Africa. It furthermore creates, adapts, enhances, and grows relevant ICT capability in selected technology areas.

The IST programme achieves this through research, development and innovation in a number of application focus areas that address quality of life and economic competitiveness issues. There are a number of technology focus areas supporting the application needs.

The application focus areas are:
• Health;
• Education;
• Service delivery;
• Services;
• Crime prevention; and
• ICT for biotechnology.

The Technology Focus Areas are:
• Human language technology (HLT);
• Open source;
• Mobile & wireless technology; and
• Advanced computing.

2 The Centre for Logistics and Decision Support (LDS)

The LDS Centre has contributed to the decision-making process of many high profile companies and organisations - ensuring that decision-making is informed, substantiated and based on quantitative analysis of available data and circumstances. The team provides customised decision support solutions with a strong quantitative element.
They consult in the following fields:

• Advanced GIS for decision-making - consulting around spatial development initiatives, demographics, crime mapping, quality control, and standards.
• Knowledge management - including technology trends, structuring knowledge management processes, and providing expert advice.
• Management science, business process and simulation, optimisation, statistical analysis, crime prevention, 'soft' operations research, and demand forecasting.

The team also concentrates on research and development in supply chain management, benchmarking, industry supply chain solutions, performance management, monitoring and evaluation, and indicator development.

3 The Satellite Applications Centre (SAC)

SAC has three main business areas, namely (for more information, see “Services”):

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Applications -
  In response to the South African, regional and global ICT market needs, SAC is positioning itself by establishing an ICT applications unit that will focus primarily on providing logistics management and security (tracking and navigation) applications based on satellite platforms.
• Ground Segment Services (GSS) -
  SAC has an excellent reputation, both locally and internationally, for its telemetry, tracking, command (TT&C) and monitoring services, antenna establishment, maintenance, and operations. SAC’s TT&C track record includes providing support to more than 170 spacecraft since 1984 for a multitude of launch vehicle and satellite operators, manufacturers, and space agencies (see Success Stories and Specialised Services).
• Earth Observation (EO) -
  The EO section consists of two units, namely the Earth Observation Data Centre (EODC) and the Earth Observation Value Addition (EOVA) group. The EODC is the spatial data centre of choice for South Africa and the whole region. SAC is part of several global networks of ground stations that download earth observation data from satellites. The EOVA group is a one-stop shop for decision makers in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The focus of its value added services is on serving the national and regional user community with in-time and up-to-date geo-spatial information and products relevant to development strategies.

SAC furthermore provides advice and consultation on satellite and space issues and applications.