du Preez, WBde Beer, DJ2009-03-092009-03-092006-06Du Preez, WB and De Beer, DJ. 2006. RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa. All Africa Technology Diffusion Conference, Boksburg, South Africa, June, pp 11.http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3188All Africa Technology Diffusion Conference, Boksburg, South Africa, June 2006The ability to design and develop new products is generally accepted as a strong enabler for improving the competitiveness of a country’s manufacturing industry. This paper describes the establishment and evolution of the Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa (RAPDASA) as representative body of the technical service providers and researchers in the product development field in the country. RAPDASA is affiliated to the Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations (GARPA), which also positions it very well in the global arena. The growth of this association from an initiative of a few government supported institutions into a powerful vehicle for technology transfer and diffusion into the private industry is described. The facilitating role that it is playing as an independent organisation in stimulating and improving the level of communication and interaction between the users of technology and the technology providers is discussed. The paper also highlights the effect that international affiliation had on establishing a credible nationally inclusive association. Reference is made to the value of the annual international RAPDASA conference and the utilisation of an internet portal, productdevelopment.co.za, in providing information on the product development process, as well as direct access to expertise and resources supporting competitive product development in South AfricaenRapid prototypingProduct developmentRAPDASA 2006GARPATechnology diffusionRapid Product Development Association of South AfricaGlobal Alliance of Rapid Prototyping AssociationsTechnology transferConference Presentationdu Preez, W., & de Beer, D. (2006). RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3188du Preez, WB, and DJ de Beer. "RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa." (2006): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3188du Preez W, de Beer D, RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa; 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3188 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - du Preez, WB AU - de Beer, DJ AB - The ability to design and develop new products is generally accepted as a strong enabler for improving the competitiveness of a country’s manufacturing industry. This paper describes the establishment and evolution of the Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa (RAPDASA) as representative body of the technical service providers and researchers in the product development field in the country. RAPDASA is affiliated to the Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations (GARPA), which also positions it very well in the global arena. The growth of this association from an initiative of a few government supported institutions into a powerful vehicle for technology transfer and diffusion into the private industry is described. The facilitating role that it is playing as an independent organisation in stimulating and improving the level of communication and interaction between the users of technology and the technology providers is discussed. The paper also highlights the effect that international affiliation had on establishing a credible nationally inclusive association. Reference is made to the value of the annual international RAPDASA conference and the utilisation of an internet portal, productdevelopment.co.za, in providing information on the product development process, as well as direct access to expertise and resources supporting competitive product development in South Africa DA - 2006-06 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Rapid prototyping KW - Product development KW - RAPDASA 2006 KW - GARPA KW - Technology diffusion KW - Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa KW - Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations KW - Technology transfer LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2006 T1 - RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa TI - RAPDASA – A vehicle for product development technology diffusion in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3188 ER -