The Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angew andten Forschung e. V., Germany, and the CSIR Meraka Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strategic cooperation to develop and market technical and other solutions. The MOU was signed recently in Berlin by Prof Dr H.J. Grallert. Managing Director: HHI, and Laurens Cloete, acting Executive Director: CSIR Meraka Institute.

Speaking after the signing of the MOU' Prof Grallert noted, "Integrating the information and communications technology (ICT) research expertise of our two institutions will result in the introduction of not only better technologies and applications but also economically viable ones. HHI brings proficiency in the development of new key technologies in digital media."

Cloete concurs with this statement, "The CSIR Meraka Institute has been working with HHI over a number of years in the field of video coding. The MOU is therefore the formalisation and extension of an existing partnership that will be of benefit to both institutions." As the CSIR's ICT research and development operating unit, Meraka strives to contribute to South Africa's development towards an advanced information society by addressing key issues with broad societal impact through ICT.

HHI is a research institute of Fraunhofer, Europe's largest research facility with over 17,000 employees, 59 institutes and a budget of approx. $2.3 billion. HHI is one of the leading research institutes in the world for key technologies of the future. One of its research goals is to shape the world of information and communication in a meaningful way, with the objective of creating an information-based society that provides all participants fair and equal access to the communication that takes place.

HHI has a proven track record in the field of innovative ICT applications, with a recent world record in serial data transmission via fibre optics (10 Terabit per second) to its name. It has also pioneered work on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless standard to make possible mobile broadband for an increasing number of applications.

Cloete indicates that "HHI's expertise is complementary and highly relevant to Meraka's research where extending and enhancing broadband access through optical and wireless networks are key to South Africa's development and to major science projects such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)."

The HHI-CSIR collaboration has the primary goal of developing and commercialising joint solutions for future-oriented topics. Other related activities include the growth of know-how leadership by developing innovative approaches to solutions, and developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies. Sustainability of development efforts will be supported by an environment of long-term collaboration. Identifying and pursuing strategic, future-oriented fields will be supported by ensuring the availability of current applied knowledge through cooperation with other councils for scientific and industrial research from around the world

The HHI-CSIR strategic partnership will focus on joint research in the fields of optical data transmission and networks; video coding / video streaming; wireless high speed data transmission, and interactive media and human factors. It comprises the joint research and marketing of technologies and cooperation in promoting joint solutions. In particular, this interaction will include trade fairs, technical conferences and symposiums, client events, and the joint realisation of expert conferences, lectures/tutorials and student exchange.

The CSIR Meraka Institute has as its mission is to build a world-class ICT research, development and innovation institution that contributes towards the goal of making South Africa a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where there is significant creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information at individual, organisational and societal level, and where new technology solutions may contribute to the above. It facilitates national economic and social development through human capital development and needs-based research and innovation.