Groundbreaking new science and medical research centre opens in Tshwane

Stephen Grootes speaks to Marcin Kouri, President of Thermo Fisher, about the launch of SA’s first cutting-edge science training hub and its mission to power local innovation and health breakthroughs.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

South Africa is taking a bold step toward scientific self-reliance with the launch of a cutting-edge training centre designed to future-proof its health systems and pandemic response.

The Centre for Advanced Training and Innovative Research (CATIR) in Tshwane is set to further enhance essential scientific skills in the country, supporting future pandemic preparedness and local health system resilience.

CATIR is established through a partnership between Thermo Fisher Scientific, the South African Medical Research Council, and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).

It will play an important role in strengthening the country’s local scientific capabilities and pandemic preparedness, by bridging the gap between academic theory and applied science, offering world-class training in molecular science and laboratory management.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Marcin Kouri, senior director of Thermo Fisher Scientific for EMEA says South Africa’s first cutting-edge science training hub has a mission to power local innovation and achieve groundbreaking health breakthroughs.

"We hope that this centre will allow for the development of the next generation of innovators and scientists that will make new breakthroughs."

- Marcin Kouri, senior director - Thermo Fisher Scientific for EMEA

"This technology will allow them to look deep into molecules to find potential cures for diseases, to develop new drugs, to find different solutions for pertinent problems that we see."

- Marcin Kouri, senior director - Thermo Fisher Scientific for EMEA

"When you look at medicine, 70% of treating a patient comes from diagnosis. So the earlier we can diagnosis the better. These tools will enable us, and enable the doctor and the labs to find, for example cancer before it even develops into stage one or stage two."

- Marcin Kouri, senior director - Thermo Fisher Scientific for EMEA

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.