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10 March 2006

NRF Business Plan 2006/07-2008/09

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1. NRF as Science Council

2. Mandate and strategic approach

3. Structure and scope

4. SAASTA

5. RISA

6. The National Research Facilities

7. New Business Development

8. Finances

ContentsContents

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NRF

RISA(includes SAASTA)

National Facilities

• Research focus a national priority

• Available to researchers

• Major, unique national equipment

• Granting• Public awareness for

S&T• Advocacy for S&T

SABS

• Standards-setting• Consumer

protection

PerformingScience Councils

• CSIR• HSRC• ARC

• CGS• Mintek

• Conduct sector-specific research

MRC

• Conduct sector-specific research

• Granting

Understanding the Science CouncilsUnderstanding the Science Councils

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Promote and support research

through

funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities

in order to

facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge

and thereby to

contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all the people of the Republic

Mandate of the NRFMandate of the NRF

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A prosperous South Africa and African continent

o steeped in a culture of knowledge

o free of poverty and its attendant diseases and

o proud contributors to the well-being of humanity

VisionVision

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HIGHER EDUCATIONINSTITUTIONS

INDUSTRY

Human ResourcesDevelopmentInterventions

INTERN

ATIONAL LIN

KS

NGOs

GOVTDEPTS

SCIENCECOUNCILS

NRF

South AfricanNational System

of Innovation

GLOBAL

SADC

InnovationInterventions

NRF Mandate in the NSINRF Mandate in the NSI

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• Policy analysis (e.g. benchmarking, alignment with

DST priorities)

• NRF Executive strategic planning workshop

• NRF Board strategic planning workshop

• Formulation of policy options

• Consultation with stakeholder community

• Alignment of 2007/08 Business Plan to five-year

strategic plan

Planning process for future five year strategic plan

Planning process for future five year strategic plan

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o High quality human resourceshuman resources in substantially increasing numbers

o High quality knowledgeknowledge in prioritised areas that address national & continental development needs

o Utilisation of knowledge, technology transfer and innovationinnovation to ensure tangible benefits to society from the knowledge created

o State-of-the-art infrastructureinfrastructure that is essential to facilitate the development of high quality human resources and knowledge

Core Missions (Annexure A)Core Missions (Annexure A)

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o Equity and redress

o Adherence to quality

o Internationalisation of research

o Focus on Africa

o Positioning the NRF within the NSI

o Organisational transformation:

o Business processes and procedures

o Human resources and transformation

o Financial

Cross-cutting Strategic Priorities (Annexure A)

Cross-cutting Strategic Priorities (Annexure A)

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System requirement: Poverty alleviation through Radical HRD intervention

System requirement: Poverty alleviation through Radical HRD intervention

2004 2014 2024

R&D workforce per 1000 of population 0.5 2 6

HE enrolment 500 000 1m 2,4m

PhD throughput/undergraduate enrolment

1/528 1/250 1/80

PhD graduates/annum 800 2000 >5 800

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The production of large numbers of high quality PhDs

required as the bedrock for

an innovative and entrepreneurial knowledge society

The Key Driver of ChangeThe Key Driver of Change

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Quality of life

National Research Foundation

Public S&T outreach

(SAASTA)

Research and Innovation Support &

Advancement

(RISA)

Provision of National Research Facilities

Three Pillars of the NRFThree Pillars of the NRF

Creation of SET human

capital

Stimulation & enhancement of

innovation

Stimulation of enhanced

entrepreneurship Enterprise Development

Innovation

Technology Promotion

Knowledge Generation

Science Advancement

Processes

SAASTANat. FacilitiesFA: Education

Focus Area ProgrammesInstitutional Capacity Dev.Centres of Excellence National Research Facilities

THRIP

THRIP

Innovation Fund

Innovation Fund

Programmes

Desired outcomes

Acting Along the Value ChainActing Along the Value Chain

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• Unlocking the Future

• Distinct SA Research Opportunities

• Conservation & Biodiversity

• Sustainable livelihoods

• Econ Growth & Intntnl. Competitiveness

• ICT & Information Society

• Impact of Globalisation

• IKS

• Education

the dti• THRIPDST• Innovation Fund• International S&T

Agreements• Research Chairs• Centres of ExcellenceDoL• Scarce Skills FundDEAT• Marine & Coastal Mngmnt

• SAAO• HartRAO• HMO• SAIAB• SAEON• NZG• iThemba LABS

Core budget(NRF & stakeholders defines)

Client budget(Mission-driven) National priority

RISA National Facilities

Strategic FocusStrategic Focus

SCIENCE

MISSIONS

MuseumMuseum ZooZoo Observatory

SCIENCE AWARENESS PLATFORM

EDUCATION

SCIENCE

COMMUNICATION

School science support

Science materialsScience materialsCommunication of research to

public audiences

Science and the media

SET Careers

KNOWLEDGE

MANAGEMENT

SAASTA ApproachSAASTA Approach

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• Relations with national and provincial DoEs for maths and science education

• Completing Phase 1 of redevelopment of Johannesburg Observatory as multi-disciplinary science park

• Life Sciences Centre (NZG)

• New national science communication programmes

• Materials development aligned to school curriculum

SAASTASAASTA

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• Investment levels for human resource development

• Rolling out CoE; SARCHI; Innovation Post-doctoral

fellowship programme

• Seamless approach

• GMSA: stakeholder-sensitive service

• KFD: Social sciences, humanities and law

• ICD: Partnerships with HEIs, SCs, etc.

• IT support: NRF on-line

RISA: ChallengesRISA: Challenges

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• Unique positionUnique position in SA knowledge production

• Technology, methods, data pools / collections of international standardinternational standard

• Goals and knowledge diffusion alignedaligned to objectives of NSI

• Critical massCritical mass of equipment, skills & users

• Ability to attract international collaboratorsinternational collaborators

• Provide opportunities of research capacity developmentresearch capacity development to disadvantaged

• Platform for science advancement, education & outreachscience advancement, education & outreach

National FacilitiesNational Facilities

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• Promoting flagship programmes

• Resourcing strategic long-term choices

• Focus on Africa

• Drafting 5-year research plans: research outputs

• International Polar Year

National Facilities: ChallengesNational Facilities: Challenges

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Managing SALT in the steady state

• Developing user community (NASSP)

• Focus on Africa (AISS)

• Collateral Benefits

• IT upgrade

Optical & Infra-red Astronomy

South African Astronomical ObservatorySouth African Astronomical Observatory

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•Radio Astronomy

Kitty; KAT; ….SKA?

Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy ObservatoryHartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

Re-orientation: Radio Astronomy & Space Geodesy

• Space Geodesy

International Institute for Space Geodesy and Earth Observation

Radio Astronomy and Space Geodesy

Geomagnetism and Space Physics

Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO)

Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO)

•Funding for flagship programme: Ihlabathi

•Science outreach•Post-graduate student training

23• RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION• RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS

• RADIOTHERAPY• RADIOBIOLOGY

• Secure funding for MRMC project

• Obtain new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner (R6,5m)

• Development of prototype beam line

• Complete integration of iThemba LABS Gauteng

• Expand IT capacity

iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based SciencesiThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences

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• Moving National Fish Collection to new collection facility • Balance between Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater research

capacity• Create funding platform for ACEP• Establish a Aquatic Conservation Genetics Laboratory

South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)

Aquatic BiodiversityAquatic Biodiversity

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South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)

In situ environmental observation systems

• Grow SAEON Ndlovu node

• Establish coastal-inshore zone in collaboration with SAIAB

• Designate nodes for the arid lands, forests and grasslands

• Implement information management system using computational technologies

National Zoological GardensNational Zoological Gardens

Promotion of conservation of Africa’s biodiversity for sustainable development

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• Finalising strategic planning alignment with NRF

• Establish research department according to research strategy

• Complete infrastructure projects

• Feasibility study for Life Sciences Centre

National Zoological GardensNational Zoological Gardens

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New Business Development

• Growing the NRF’s financial resources, requires

effective delivery on its mandate, through

– International relations

– Government relations

– Industry relations

– Corporate Communication

– Corporate Branding

  2006/07 2007/08 2008/09

  R’m R’m R’m

Human Capital in S&T 310 500 750

Research Chairs Initiative 25 157 289

Astronomy Frontiers Programme 22 63 44

Space Geodesy & Earth Observation 10 10 9

Antarctica & Intl. Polar Year 5 5 5

Intl. Post-Doc. Fellowship 57 60 60

HMO Flagship Project 6,5 2 2

SAAO in SALT Era 16 22 19

NZG as a Research Facility 14 14 15

Research &Tech. Infrastructure 127 140 143

NRF Facilities Infrastructure 21 11 11

NRF Healthcare Liability 54 7 7

TOTAL POLICY OPTIONS 667,5 991 1 354

MTEF ALLOCATION 555 586 621

TOTAL MTEF SUBMISSION 1 222,5 1 577 1 975

Growth 136% 29% 25%

MTEF Policy Options & Budget Submission

MTEF Policy Options & Budget Submission

SOURCE 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05Rm Rm Rm

Core Grant From DST 336 379 414 Contract Income 265 329 451 Sundry Income 25 25 49 TOTAL 626 733 914

NRF ACTUAL SOURCES OF FUNDING

-

100

200

300

400

500

Core Grant From DST Contract Income Sundry Income

Income Source

R'm

illi

on

2002/03 Rm

2003/04 Rm

2004/05 Rm

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• Amendment of NRF Act

• Role clarification: DST e.g.

• IKS unit: policy, support interventions, database development

• IPR initiatives vs Innovation Fund initiatives

• Funding for research equipment & R&D infrastructure

• Programmes run on behalf of DST: Innovation Fund; Centres of Excellence; Research Chairs

• Science missions: prioritisation

• DST coordination with DoE

Immediate challenges (1) Immediate challenges (1)

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• Accessing funds obtained through MTEF submission;

DST: R1,2b

• NZG: Due diligence – funding shortfall

• PRMB unfunded liability (R60m)

• Staff capacity to react to ad hoc allocation of funds

Immediate challenges (2)Immediate challenges (2)

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