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10 March 2006

NRF Business Plan 2006/07-2008/09. 10 March 2006. Contents. NRF as Science Council Mandate and strategic approach Structure and scope SAASTA RISA The National Research Facilities New Business Development Finances. SABS. Performing Science Councils. Standards-setting

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10 March 2006

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  1. NRF Business Plan 2006/07-2008/09 10 March 2006

  2. Contents • NRF as Science Council • Mandate and strategic approach • Structure and scope • SAASTA • RISA • The National Research Facilities • New Business Development • Finances

  3. SABS Performing Science Councils • Standards-setting • Consumer protection NRF RISA (includes SAASTA) • CSIR • HSRC • ARC • CGS • Mintek • Granting • Public awareness for S&T • Advocacy for S&T • Conduct sector-specific research National Facilities MRC • Research focus a national priority • Available to researchers • Major, unique national equipment • Conduct sector-specific research • Granting Understanding the Science Councils

  4. Mandate of the NRF 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

  5. Vision A prosperous South Africa and African continent • steeped in a culture of knowledge • free of poverty and its attendant diseases and • proud contributors to the well-being of humanity

  6. GLOBAL SADC South African National System of Innovation INTERNATIONALLINKS Human Resources Development Interventions SCIENCE COUNCILS NRF GOVT DEPTS INDUSTRY Innovation Interventions NGOs HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS NRF Mandate in the NSI

  7. Planning process for future five year strategic plan • 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-yearstrategic plan

  8. Core Missions (Annexure A) • High quality human resources in substantially increasing numbers • High quality knowledge in prioritised areas that address national & continental development needs • Utilisation of knowledge, technology transfer and innovationto ensure tangible benefits to society from the knowledge created • State-of-the-art infrastructurethat is essential to facilitate the development of high quality human resources and knowledge

  9. Cross-cutting Strategic Priorities (Annexure A) • Equity and redress • Adherence to quality • Internationalisation of research • Focus on Africa • Positioning the NRF within the NSI • Organisational transformation: • Business processes and procedures • Human resources and transformation • Financial

  10. System requirement: Poverty alleviation through Radical HRD intervention

  11. The Key Driver of Change The production of large numbers of high quality PhDs required as the bedrock for an innovative and entrepreneurial knowledge society

  12. Quality of life Public S&T outreach (SAASTA) Research and Innovation Support & Advancement (RISA) Provision of National Research Facilities National Research Foundation Three Pillars of the NRF

  13. Programmes Processes Science Advancement Desired outcomes SAASTA Nat. Facilities FA: Education Creation of SET human capital Focus Area Programmes Institutional Capacity Dev. Centres of Excellence National Research Facilities Knowledge Generation Technology Promotion Stimulation & enhancement of innovation THRIP Stimulation of enhanced entrepreneurship Innovation THRIP Innovation Fund EnterpriseDevelopment Innovation Fund Acting Along the Value Chain

  14. Strategic Focus RISA National Facilities Core budget (NRF & stakeholders defines) Client budget (Mission-driven) National priority • 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 • THRIP • DST • Innovation Fund • International S&T Agreements • Research Chairs • Centres of Excellence • DoL • Scarce Skills Fund • DEAT • Marine & Coastal Mngmnt • SAAO • HartRAO • HMO • SAIAB • SAEON • NZG • iThemba LABS

  15. Museum Zoo Observatory SAASTA Approach KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MISSIONS SCIENCE AWARENESS PLATFORM SCIENCE COMMUNICATION EDUCATION Science and the media School science support Science materials Communicationofresearch to public audiences SET Careers

  16. SAASTA • 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

  17. 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: Challenges

  18. National Facilities • Unique position in SA knowledge production • Technology, methods, data pools / collections of international standard • Goals and knowledge diffusion aligned to objectives of NSI • Critical mass of equipment, skills & users • Ability to attract international collaborators • Provide opportunities of research capacity development to disadvantaged • Platform for science advancement, education & outreach

  19. National Facilities: Challenges • Promoting flagship programmes • Resourcing strategic long-term choices • Focus on Africa • Drafting 5-year research plans: research outputs • International Polar Year

  20. South African Astronomical Observatory • Managing SALT in the steady state • Developing user community (NASSP) • Focus on Africa (AISS) • Collateral Benefits • IT upgrade Optical & Infra-red Astronomy

  21. Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory Re-orientation: Radio Astronomy & Space Geodesy • Radio Astronomy • Kitty; KAT; ….SKA? • Space Geodesy • International Institute for Space Geodesy and Earth Observation Radio Astronomy and Space Geodesy

  22. Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) Funding for flagship programme: IhlabathiScience outreachPost-graduate student training Geomagnetism and Space Physics

  23. iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences • 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 • RADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION • RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS • RADIOTHERAPY • RADIOBIOLOGY

  24. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) • 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 Aquatic Biodiversity

  25. South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) • 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 In situ environmental observation systems

  26. National Zoological Gardens Promotion of conservation of Africa’s biodiversity for sustainable development

  27. National Zoological Gardens • Finalising strategic planning alignment with NRF • Establish research department according to research strategy • Complete infrastructure projects • Feasibility study for Life Sciences Centre

  28. 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

  29. MTEF Policy Options & Budget Submission

  30. Immediate challenges (1) • 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

  31. Immediate challenges (2) • 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

  32. END

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