Highlights of the CSIR Research and Innovation Conference ( Feedback to the Portfolio Committee) Dr...

Highlights of the CSIR Research and Innovation Conference

(Feedback to the Portfolio Committee)

Dr David Walwyn

CSIR Group Manager: Research and Development

March 2006

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

The CSIR Mandate

“The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and particularly multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields

which in its opinion should receive preference, industrial and scientific development, either by itself or in co-operation with principals from the private or public sectors, and thereby to

contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people of the Republic, and to perform any other functions

that may be assigned to the CSIR by or under this Act.”

(Scientific Research Council Act 46 of 1988,

amended by Act 71 of 1990)


Background to the Conference

• Celebration of the CSIR’s 60th Anniversary• Profile the CSIR’s research portfolio

• Multidisciplinary (all units)• New knowledge only (not implementation)

• Presentations • Combined with peer-reviewed papers; papers to be published in a

special issue of the SA Journal of Science (June 2006)• Invited (local and international) speakers to cover developments

within selected fields (bioscience, photonics and environment); to highlight key research questions

• Posters• Open invitation to all CSIR


Conference Programme

• Two day event• 29 presentations; 40 posters• 320 delegates (mainly CSIR)• Cocktail event to launch the brand• Themes

• Materials, Metrology and Manufacturing• Built Environment• Defence, Peace, Safety and Security• Natural Environment• Biosciences• Photonics• Mining• ICT and Modelling


Highlights (Presentations)

• Built Environment (Infrastructure)• Durability of road construction materials• Assessment of land for low-income housing

• Defence, Peace, Safety and Security• Digital radio frequency memory device for radar jamming• Ground vibration testing (flutter analysis)

• Natural Environment and Sustainable Development• Planning tool for systematic conservation of SA’s freshwater• Ecological theory and science/society issues (wood fuel, Namibia

carbon balance, elephants and trees)• Human footprint exceeds sustainable limits

• Biosciences and Health• Expression of antibodies in plants• Aptamers as a therapeutic agent against HIV


Highlights (Presentations 2)

• Economic Development• Materials and Manufacturing

• Low cost automation of SMEs (SmartFactory)• Supercritical carbon dioxide and probiotic encapsulation• Semi-solid metal alloys and automobile components

• Photonics• Improved efficiency of carbon dioxide laser• Synthesis of carbon nanotubes

• Mining• Radar techniques for mapping underground structures• ‘Smart’ mining using sensor integration (predict rock failure)

• ICT and Modelling• Trend analysis in elections• Bootstrapping pronunciation models


Highlights (Posters)

• Health• Anti-malarial and insecticidal leads from indigenous plants• Nano-particle drug delivery (TB)• Bioceramics

• Defence• Processing of satellite images

• Industry• Buckling of woven fabrics• Fluidised bed processing• Carbon nanotube manufacture• Corrosion inhibitors


Highlights (Posters 2)

• Energy• Solar cell technology• Fuel cell research

• Education and Communication• Digital doorway• Sign language through a computer interface• Open source text to speech software

• Agriculture• Sorghum fortification• Use of microwaves to protect stored maize• Biological control agents against Panama disease in banana


Summary

• Successful event!• Number of delegates benefited from its multidisciplinary nature and

learning about the overall CSIR capabilities/research• Researchers gained experience in explaining the importance and

implications of their work to a general audience

• Highlighted CSIR’s contribution to research and innovation across the three spheres:• Social• Economic• Environment

• To be repeated in a revised format in the future?• R&D outcomes• Single day, parallel sessions


CSIR S&T Strategy

• Objectives• Revitalise the S&T base• Focus the strategic research portfolio• Improve the overall quality and tempo of CSIR research outputs

(including human capital development)• Encourage longer term/critical mass investments in emerging

research areas


Strategic Research Portfolio

• Performance-based block funding• Competitive funding

• Thematic programme• Young researchers establishment• Scientific equipment

• Emerging research areas• Executive strategic initiatives


Grant Fund Allocations (with CAPEX)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2004/5(actual)

2005/6 (est) 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9

% o

f T

otal

Res

earc

h F

undi

ng

Core T hematic ERAs Scient ific Equipment (T otal) HCD and Other


Block or Core Funding

• Performance based• Allocation = last year * performance factor * strategic alignment• Well defined evaluation criteria • Peer review through Research Advisory Panels


Competitive Funds

• Thematic Programme• Open, competitive, proposal driven• Five themes

• Digital analysis and mathematical modelling• Geomatics and spatial analysis• ICT, biosciences and health• Knowledge-intensive manufacturing and materials• Environmental security

• Annual call, external evaluation, low transaction cost, pilot and full projects, 2 year duration


Competitive Funds II

• Young researchers establishment fund• R125K per year for three years; 10 per year• Designed to support a young researcher in developing a research

career

• Scientific equipment• Support for the depreciation charges• R17.5 million over 5 years already committed

• Human Capital Development• Funding to support upgrading the qualifications of existing

employees• New posts for PhD students• New posts for post docs


Emerging Research Areas

• One of the key B60 outcomes; scope and nature well defined

• Designed to boost CSIR research in new areas of S&T• Two areas identified for 2005/6

• Nanotechnology• Photonics

• Total of six are planned


Performance Indicators

CSIR Research Footprint

0%

100%

S&T Resource Allocation

State of S&T Base

Excellence in S&TExcellence in Innovation

Outcomes & Impact

• Further detail in the S&T strategy

The End

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