SATeC Background

Seda Automotive Technology Centre (SATeC) is a section 21 company (with its own board of directors drawn from various industry players). SATeC functions as a business incubator for the automotive sector and offers entrepreneurs in the sector an environment which nutures the development of their business to the point of sustainability. It aims to stimulate the participation of SMME's (Small Micro and Medium Enterprises, both formal and informal) and emerging suppliers in the automotive supply chain. Through the process of enterprise creation, support and development, the Centre offers a onestop service support system to start-up companies and entrepreneurs seeking to become suppliers of products and services to the Automotive Sector.

SATeC is is now operating from Rosslyn industrial side, Pretoria, offering modern workspace, conference and training facilities and connection to the latest I C T infrastructure. It also aims to provide access to markets and a range of business support services at subsidized rates.

The Department of Trade and Industry, the dti, has taken the lead in advancing the concept of incubation as a means of enabling SMME's to participate in economic development and in support of incubation and improvement of the automotive industry competitiveness, the dti, through the Seda Technology Programme (stp), provided initial funding for the establishment and operation of SATeC.

SATeC has partnered with various organizations such as Retail Motor Industry (RMI), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), National Association of Automotive Components and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). These institutions are also represented on the Board of SATeC.

Background to Incubation

Business incubators are programs designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts.