South Africa: Deputy Minister Gina welcomes launch of IRIS manufacturing plant

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, has welcomed the launch of South Africa's locally developed IRIS AI Humanoid Tutor manufacturing plant and showroom at Dube TradePort in Durban, saying the initiative has the potential to create jobs while transforming teaching and learning. The launch yesterday marked an important step by BSG and Technologies' founder and CEO, Ms Thando Gumede, to expand into local manufacturing. Dr Gina said the initiative has the potential to create 20 000 jobs over the next five years, describing the project as a powerful example of how innovation can drive educational advancement, industrial development and economic growth. "As the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), our mandate is to support science, technology and innovation that address the real conditions of our people," she said, calling for strong collaboration between government and the private sector to support initiatives like these. "The localisation of IRIS manufacturing will signal the growth of a South African innovation ecosystem that can drive enterprise development, strengthen industrial capability, create opportunities for youn