Dr. Molefi Motuku

Research & Development, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
mmotuku@csir.co.za

Dr Molefi Motuku was appointed as CSIR Group Executive: R&D on 1 June 2012. He has over 17 years of experience in the research, development, leadership and management of science and technology; minerals and mining; and the advanced engineering environment. Before joining the CSIR, Motuku was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA). He managed the physical metallurgy (advanced materials) division at Mintek and was later appointed General Manager: R&D before joining NMISA in 2010. Prior to his time at Mintek, he was Director of the Fort Hare Institute of Technology (FHIT); and before that, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Tuskegee University, US. Motuku has worked with local and foreign governments at all levels. His familiarity with the National System of Innovation and industry; and experience in working with government, specifically the Department of Science and Technology (DST), are a perfect fit for his position at the CSIR. He is the previous chairperson of the Mintek/DST Nanotechnology Innovation Centre at Mintek. Motuku has a PhD and MSc degrees in Materials Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), US; and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings. He has also presented significantly at local and international conferences and forums.