The National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN) is a key foundry industry support initiative that is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and hosted by the CSIR. The aim of the NFTN is to facilitate the development of a globally competitive foundry industry in South Africa through appropriate skills training, technology transfer and diffusion of state-of-the-art technologies in close collaboration with existing industry associations.

The NFTN facilitates and initiates projects that will deliver the following outcomes:

The provision of appropriate skills and professional training through the provision of a formal foundry career path

• Product and process improvement interventions
• Appropriate foundry technology innovation and transfer
• SMME/BBBEE development and promotion
• Information dissemination and technology diffusion.

The overall objective of the NFTN is to reduce import leakage, increase investments in key manufacturing processes and activities, employment and exportability.

The NFTN is hosted at the CSIR along with other industry-support initiatives such as the Aerospace Industry Support Initiative, the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa and the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit.