The East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) is seeking to establish a database of pre- qualified research consultants and service providers and has issued a request for information.
The research consultants could be summoned on short notice to develop research reports and documents.
“This need has been identified owing to the nature of the ELIDZ’s business, where business units as well as prospective tenants or investors require information quickly and on a wide array of topics and sectors,” it says.
Those listed on the database must be able to cover all the sectors in the ELIDZ’s interest, as well as global matters.
The ELIDZ proposes that member companies be divided into various categories and that service providers be cate- gorised to deliver services in one or more of these categories.
The proposed categories include sector research in the automotive, aquaculture, renewable-energy, logistics and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as international research in the form of country reports, foreign direct investment analy- sis and trade flow studies.
In the competition and bench- marking studies category, service providers would have to undertake strategic development and study financing options, as well as study and benchmark competitor data.
Science and technology research to determine best practices, innovation trends and financing options for science and technology has been proposed, while research into customer needs and trends will also be under- taken.
Member research companies and service providers have also been asked to conduct impact studies, as well as economic and socioeconomic-impact studies, while general and ad hoc research will be carried out as required.
Interested parties have until March 28 to submit their documents.