Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa, visited IGDB in the afternoon of September 6, 2011. Dr YANG Weicai, the Deputy Director, hosted their visit. Scientists from the Center for Developmental Biology attended the discussion on academic cooperation and exchanges. Potential collaborations in the future between CSIR and IGDB are discussed.

The CSIR is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organizations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research, technological innovation as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of the country people.

The core R&D base of CSIR consists of key competency platforms drawing together research fields and scientific disciplines assembled to align with the needs of specific government departments, primary, secondary and tertiary industry sectors and society in key areas of socio-economic impact. The following areas are defined: Biosciences; the built environment; defence, peace, safety and security; information and communications technology; laser technology; materials science and manufacturing; natural resources and the environment; and space technology.