Paramount and the CSIR announce partnership agreement

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Paramount Group and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have announced they will collaborate on a number of projects and technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The two entities confirmed their intention to collaborate on the industrialisation and production of specific technologies developed by the CSIR during a ceremony at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition on 20 September.
“The collaboration will bring the latest technology developments of the CSIR into the Paramount portfolio of products and solutions. It will leverage the highly capable industrialisation and production capabilities with the Paramount Group to bring these products to market,” Paramount said.

Executive Director at CSIR for Defence, Peace, Safety and Security Dr Motodi Maserumule stated: “I am positive about the potential benefits that this collaboration will bring for the development of new technologies for South Africa that will also impact the local economy. These are all Proudly South African innovations for which we now have a route to market through Paramount South Africa.”

Chairman of Paramount South Africa, Matthews Phosa, stated: “We have established Paramount South Africa with the clear objective of embarking on an investment drive and technology transfer that will recharge South Africa’s defence industry. Our partnership with the CSIR is a significant first step demonstrating how Paramount South Africa is going to invest in the local market through strategic partnerships to bring about modern and technologically advanced solutions.
“The sharing of technological and industrial competencies between both Paramount South Africa and CSIR will create its own long-term sustainability. This is about collaborating in the spirit of greater in-country industrialization and competitiveness.”

The collaboration covers the production of the CSIR’s LEMU Long Endurance Modular UAV (LEMU) unmanned aerial vehicle. Based on the original Modular UAV, the LEMU is planned in several versions, including those with electric, fuel cell and combustion engines. The twin-engine aircraft features a modular payload pod mounted under the centre of the fuselage.

Ralph Mills, CEO of Paramount Advanced Technologies, told defenceWeb that working with the CSIR has always been one of his goals and that the new agreement will see Paramount become an industrial partner to the CSIR.

The partnership will see Paramount help commercialise a number of CSIR technologies, including electronic warfare and airborne testing systems.
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