The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA or the Agency) was established in terms of the TIA Act, 2008 (Act No. 26 of 2008), with the objective of - “Stimulating and intensifying technological innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans by developing and exploiting technological innovations”

 The Agency is set up as a public entity with the aim to enhance the country’s capacity to translate a greater proportion of local research and development into commercial technology products and services.

The TIA is tasked with exploiting the existing body of knowledge at universities and public research institutions and channelling it effectively towards the development of technology based industries.

Vision
The Technology Innovation Agency has a vision of becoming a “world class innovation agency that supports and enables technological innovation to achieve socio-economic benefits for South Africa through leveraging strategic partnerships”.

Mission
In line with this vision, the TIA mission is to enhance South Africa’s global competitiveness and to deliver socio-economic value through technological innovation across sectors of the economy. To meet its mandate, the TIA will provide and mobilize financial and nonfinancial support across broad technology areas in various sectors of the economy through:

• appropriately structured financial and non-financial interventions for the commercialisation of Research and Development (R&D) results;
   
• the development and maintenance of advanced human capacity for innovation as opposed to just R&D human capital;
   
• building a culture of innovation in the South African economy and
   
• leveraging local and international partnerships in order to facilitate in-bound technology transfer, build local technological competencies, and encourage foreign direct investment for the commercialization of technologies in South Africa.