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R&D

SA sends over R16bn on research, experimental development

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:28

By Nthambeleni Gabara

South Africa has spent at least R16.5 billion on research and experimental development (R&D) in the 2006/07 financial year; an indication that the country is progressing towards a knowledge-based economy.

This is according to the latest national survey of R&D activities, released by the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The purpose of the survey was to collect data which was used to produce indicators of R&D activities within South Africa's borders for use by analysts and other interested parties, both nationally and internationally.

The survey showed that South Africa is gradually increasing spending on research and development, an excellent indication of the country's ability to participate in a knowledge-based economy.

The Department of Science and Technology Director-General, Phil Mjwara said this puts the country on course to meet its goal of spending 1 percent of GDP on R&D by 2008/09.

The results of the 2006/07 survey represent an improvement on the situation experience in 2005/06, where R&D expenditure of R14.1 billion, or 0.92 percent of GDP was recorded.

Most South African R&D were performed in the research field of the engineering sciences (comprising 20.9 percent of total R&D), followed by the natural sciences (20.3 percent) and the medical and health sciences (15.1 percent).

He said the local business sector was the major performer and financer of R&D in the country and performs 55.9 percent of all R&D undertaken, while financing 51.3 percent of total R&D.

The higher education sector undertakes 20 percent of national R&D while government (including the science councils) performs 22.8 percent of the total but finances 33.9 percent of R&D.

About 10.6 percent of South Africa's R&D is financed from abroad. Altogether about 18.6 percent of total R&D performed in the country comprised basic research representing an expenditure of about 0.18 percent of GDP.

South Africa has a total of 30 986 full time equivalent (FTE) R&D personnel, comprising researchers, technicians and other support staff.

Meanwhile, the demographic profile of researchers in South Africa is changing. Women researchers now comprise 39.7 percent of the total researchers compared to 12.4 percent in Japan, and 31.7 percent in Norway.

Among the developing countries, Argentina leads the way with 50.5 percent women researchers.

“It is important to have a strong basic research component in a country's national system of innovation in order to challenge and train new researchers.

“Applied research and experimental development contribute to economic development by providing new R&D based products and processes with potential for introduction to the market,” Mr Mjwara said.

According to the survey, the strengthening of the R&D system through national policies and mechanisms including special support for cooperation across what is termed the “triple helix” of business, government and higher education sectors can only lead to a more competitive international position through R&D based innovation.

The information was critical to South Africa's forward planning particularly in specifying the targets for the Ten-Year Innovation Plan, which aims to help drive South Africa's transformation towards a knowledge-based economy in which the production and dissemination of knowledge leads to economic benefits.

The survey was carried out according to the guidelines provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Frascati Manual and in consultation with national authorities, including Statistics South Africa, and international experts in the field.

The survey, which was commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology, involved comprehensive surveys of business, government (including the nine science councils such as the CSIR, HSRC and MRC), higher education and non-profit sectors.

- BuaNews