Sponsor's Message

As one of the world's leading engineering and electronics organisations, Siemens is driven by innovation, with science and technology at the very centre of everything we do.

As developments in science and technology continue, often at a bewildering pace, it is essential for all, from governments and business through to the person in the street, to stay up-to-date with leading edge developments. Advancements in science and technology can help everyone to create safer and healthier societies, cleaner environments and prosperous knowledge-driven economies across Africa.

The Siemens portfolio spans a broad range of markets, from power, transportation, automation and drives and healthcare through to infor mation technology and industrial solutions and services. Given the wide scope of the company's products, systems, solutions and services, the Siemens portfolio has the ability to impact on almost every aspect of daily life.

With this in mind, Siemens appreciates that science and technology reporting needs to be continuously accelerated and improved across the African continent in order to demystify these very important topics that have the potential to impact massively on the lives of the continent's people and beyond.

For these reasons, Siemens sees the reporting of science and technology in an easily understandable format as a priority for Africa. Consequently, the recognition and reward of those writers, broadcasters and producers who effectively do this, is a vitally important task and it is in this spirit that Siemens sponsors the Profile Awards for the 8th year in a row with a total investment of nearly R4 million.

At Siemens, we pursue excellence in all we do; excellence in products, excellence in services and excellence in solutions. But most of all, we pursue excellence in people, and where we find it, we reward it. So you are encouraged to enter your work and your submissions are welcomed for the 2009 Profile Awards.

With warm wishes
Mr. Dirk Hoke
CEO Siemens Africa Cluster