Industry

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[Background] [Objectives] [Activities] [Structure] [Industry Sub-sector] [Contact Information]

INDUSTRY

The Industry department incorporates manufacturing, Construction, & Transport and Communication Industries. As the Industry plays a leading role in the realization of the Agricultural Development Led Industrialization strategy of the country, efforts are made to enhance its activities especially in generating, selecting, transferring and assimilating modern technologies with the traditional ones. The industry department of the ESTC facilitates conditions to provide the necessary support for the creation of linkages and interdependence among existing and forth coming R&D institutions, higher learning institutions and the industrial sector so as to utilize their outputs in a helpful manner.

2. Objectives & Duties of Industry Department of the ESTC

The Department of Industry is one of the six sectoral departments of the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission having the following major objectives and duties.

2.1. Objectives

The major objectives of the Department are:-

To co-ordinate activities pertinent to the promotion and strengthening of S&T awareness of manufacturing construction and transport and communication industries so that they could be able to boost their production processes at all levels.
To assist, encourage and strengthen sectoral S&T activities at all stages that enable to meet the economic and social requirements of the country

2.2. Duties

In order to achieve the aforementioned sectoral objectives, the department undertakes the following duties.

The department follows up, formulates/sets out effective S&T polices and methodologies that enable to prepare and evaluate scientific and technological plans, programs and projects in the industrial sector and implement them economically and in co-ordination.
Create favourable conditions for the sector's scientific and technological provision and utilization to properly build the country's capability and strengthen the economic and social contribution/ results of this effort.
Follow-up implementation of appropriate policy guidelines, rules and regulations as well as national plans and projects in line with the sectoral policy objectives and strategies.
Prepare agenda for the National Industrial S&T Council pertaining to sectoral science and technology activities and practically implement its resolutions. It serves as a secretariat for the Council.
Categorize (sub-sectorally), and preliminarily evaluate research project proposals received and submit to the council for final evaluation & approval.
Follow-up the implementation of local research grant (LRG) and SAREC supported projects selected by the council and present evaluation reports.
Propose ideas for the establishment of research and other support institutions as required to promote the scientific and technological development of the industrial sector and follow up their implementation when endorsed.
Facilitate conditions for the dissemination of useful research and development outputs to end users.
Prepare department operational budget and properly implement when approved.
Undertake other department affiliated activities.

3. Organizational Structure

In order to build Industrial S&T capability and implement the policy effectively, a suitable organizational structure is required. The structure is designed to help the elements of the system to be strengthened in order to make their contributions more effective & sustainable, and establish the necessary interdependence and co-operation. Hence the Department has links with following bodies.

1. Industrial S&T Council
2. National Industrial R&D Centres

3. Regional Industrial S&T Centres

4. Industrial S&T Operational Units

4. The Industry sub-sectors currently operating under this department are :

4.1 Manufacturing Industry

4.1.1 Basic metals and engineering

create and promote the capacity to design and manufacture agricultural tools and machinery,

build the capacity to design and manufacture machinery, spare parts, components, hand tools by releasing public funds and forwarding technical assistance to the industrial sector,

undertake scientific and technological activities that would enable to modify, adapt and assimilate transferred technologies, and

promote activities that strengthen foundry, heat treatment, and machining which have special and all round services.

4.1.2 Food and Beverage

improve and promote the production and preservation techniques of traditional foods and beverages,

promote research on traditional foods for better & nutritionally balanced content,

generate, improve & promote the technology of handling, preparing and packaging of cereals, coffee and easily perishable food items like fruits and vegetables, fish, meat, milk and its products, and

undertake research on by - products of food industry to suit them for better use.

4.1.3 Chemical

create capability to produce chemicals and chemical products used as inputs for the agricultural and other sectors both in quantity and quality,

support researches on inputs such as mineral fillers, additives and chemicals from locally available natural products,

supply technical assistance for researches on local sourcing of imported inputs for food, beverage, leather, textile, pharmaceutical, plastic, paper and pulp production, and

promote and undertake research on techniques that could eliminate or reduce pollution of industrial dust, liquid waste and residues.

4.1.4 Textile

strengthen efforts that would improve traditional textile technology,

promote competence to improve production process, product diversification, product quality, pattern development, design and dyeing techniques.

4.1.5 Leather

promote and undertake research on the improvement of traditional handling and tanning techniques and production of chemical inputs from locally available natural products,

improve and promote technical competence of handling, preparing and use of skins and hides,

promote the recycling methods of by-products and refuses.

4.2 Construction Industry

4.2.1 Building Construction

Identify and upgrade traditional building construction techniques

Support and follow researches which help in producing building construction materials from locally available raw materials

Support the implementation of low-cost and efficient design and construction techniques

Propose ideas to improve and adapt foreign construction technologies to local conditions

Propose ideas to formulating, improving and promoting design and construction standard code of practices

4.2.2 Road Construction

Support the implementation of efficient and low cost technologies in the construction of dry weather roads and small scale bridges from locally available natural resources

Propose ideas to improve and adapt foreign construction technologies in roads, rail-way lines, air ports and sea ports to local conditions

Propose ideas to develop technological capacity in repairing modern road construction equipments; and

Propose ideas in formulating, improving and developing standard code of practises in roads.

4.2.3 Water Works Construction

Support the implementation of technologies in irrigation, water supply and sewerage constructions

Support to enhance design and construction capacity of deep wells, dams, and irrigation works

Support to develop the construction technologies of small scale irrigation schemes

4.3 Transport and Communication Industry

4.3.1 Land Transport

build technical capability to utilize, repair, maintain, improve, and modify land transport means.

study, develop and strengthen low-cost transport technologies appropriate to the rural population; and

Propose ideas for better utilization and performance of land transportation system in the city as well as in rural areas

4.3.2 Marine Transport

select, improve, and utilize appropriate traditional marine transport means:

upgrade the capability & efficiency of traditional marine transport (boats).

4.3.3 Air Transport.

develop and strengthen the information system and the manpower to keep up with the technological advancement.

Support efforts to build capability to maintain as well as assemble parts of small planes.

Contact Information:

Ato Shumu Tefera,

Head, Industry Department

P.O. Box: 2490, ESTC

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel.: 251-1-534948

Fax: 251-1-518829

E-mail: ind.estc@telecom.net.et

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