Minister Mangena made this announcement during his department’s budget vote speech in Parliament earlier today. The intensity of R&D expenditure (measured as the percentage of GDP spent on R&D), which shows that the country’s national spend is currently 0,9%, is a good indication of the competitiveness of the country’s economy.

The Minister said his department had received an allocation of R3,7 billion for the 2008/9 financial year for a wide range of science projects and programmes.

This budget allocation is imperative, as the department is responsible for ensuring that SA maintains and strengthens its competitiveness by increasing investment in relevant R&D initiatives.

Science and technology (S&T) plays an important role in SA’s economy and underscores the national effort of achieving 6% GDP growth rate target.

Private enterprise and industry are currently funding about half the nation’s R&D spend.

In addition, the department’s goal to arrest the critical shortage of human resources in science, engineering and technology, has set aside an extra R195 million for strengthening the scientific capacity of higher education institution.

“This is in light of the number of research chairs, which will increase by at least 30% over the next three years, providing mentorship to postgraduate students”, said Minister Mangena.

This investment in human capital development is in line with the department’s National R&D strategy which among others, puts enormous value on human capital, and canvasses for the spirit and practice of innovation to be treated as a national asset.

The number of school-leavers who have science as a grade 12 subject remains low. “If we continue to lose our best young minds, our National System of Innovation will be rendered completely ineffectual, and our infrastructure, environment and economy will suffer”, said Minister Mangena.

Skills development in S&T remains a key challenge for the country’s science system and the DST through its Youth into Science Strategy places emphasis on interventions aimed at popularising mathematics and science related careers at high school level.

Minister Mangena highlighted the importance of SA’s role in development, integration and unification of Africa, principally through participation in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

In addition the country is currently working towards winning the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array in partnership with, and for the benefit of the entire continent. By winning the bid, Southern Africa would be receiving a major boost in radio astronomy research, more student training and infrastructure layout.

The department is currently working towards the creation and establishment of the Technology Innovation Agency, which will be a public funding agency to bridge the innovation gap between the local knowledge base and the productive economy.

These initiatives are all part of a larger plan, the Ten-Year Innovation Plan for South Africa, which maps the course for enhancing innovation and enormous potential to contribute to sustained economic growth over the next decade

Issued by the Department of Science and Technology.

For media information, please contact: 

Zama Mthethwa, Assistant Director: Communication on 082 808 3956 or email: zama.mthethwa@dst.gov.za 

Nhlanhla Nyide, Chief Director: Communication, email: nhlanhla.nyide@dst.gov.za or 082 871 6767  

Kristin Klose, Director: Communication and Media Liaison, Department of Science and Technology on 082 902 9503 or email: kristin.klose@dst.gov.za