Portfolio Committee Briefing

Science and Technology cooperation agreements between SA and

France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico

Mr Mmboneni Muofhe

Some stats on DST international engagements

• Number of Agreements– Overseas bilateral: 34

• Active: 23

– Africa bilateral: 19• Active 10

– OVERALL TOTAL: 53– TOTAL ACTIVE:33

Why engage in international cooperation

• Research is too costly for one country to bear alone• Many problems requiring scientific knowledge and expertise do

not respect borders• Scientific talent and world-class facilities are located in many

nations around the globe• Certain scientific problems require access to particular

geographic sites• The growing appetite and need for big science – mega projects• Science diplomacy

Modalities of Cooperation

• Joint calls

• Policy dialogues

• Student and staff exchanges

• Competitive calls

• Workshops and conferences

SOUTH AFRICA – FRANCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

French System Overview

• Highly educated population

• Good R&D intensity

• Increasing annual R&D spend

• Leading exporter of nuclear technology

• Amongst the top knowledge generators

Programmes with French Government

• Technical Expert seconded to TIA – innovation management

• SAFeTI research programme – information and communication technologies (CSIR)

• SAFeWATER research programme – water-related research (WRC)

• Research exchanges – nanotechnology related, HCD and student training

Programmes with French Government

• Call for research proposals – 72 projects and 18 networking activities (R10 471 418)Life sciences; Engineering; New materials; Health

sciences; Physics

• F’SATI (Frenco South African Technical Institute) – training in electrical and electronic engineering (French Embassy = R5.1 million – 28 B.Tech, 63 M.Tech, 14 D.Tech, 8 PhDs and 2 Post-Docs)

• Free access to synchrotron Soleil

Impact of French cooperation

• Trilateral cooperation – laser research pilot project (South Africa, France and Senegal)

• ERA-NET AFRICA – increased cooperation and coordination through the networking of research programmes

• ICEMASA – setting up an international joint laboratory on Marine Sciences

Future Plans with France

• The South African-French Seasons – to celebrate achievements and to stimulate interest in young scientists (French season in SA – Jul-Nov-2012; South African Season in France – Jul-Nov 2013)

• Joint Committee meeting – early 2013 – to map the way forward

SOUTH AFRICA – SWITZERLAND

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Swiss System Overview

• World leader in spending for R&D, publications and patents per capita

• One of top three countries in environmental sciences publications

• Prominent in biosciences research

• A strong industrial base

Strength of the Swiss System

• Very good university sector – strong academic output (people and publications) and impact

• Economy is modern, very specialised and service-oriented

• Leader in biotechnology sector within Europe

Programmes with Swiss Government

• Research Programme (2008) – R84 million; 16 projects

• Biotech Business Development – focus on young career scientists – encourage innovation under the Science to Market (S2M) collaborating instrument

• Seed funding call (2011) – industry-oriented projects; 9 projects – R7,7 million

Impact of Swiss cooperation

• Bioeconomy – a first pharmaceutical plant to manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for Anti-Retroviral Medicines in South Africa

• Human Capital Development:– 10 students attended a Bio-entrepreneurship

School;– 8 scholarships awarded for a Bio-entrepreneur

programme in Switzerland

Future Plans with Switzerland

• Prolong research projects till end 2012

• A wrap-up workshop to celebrate success and to take stock (November 2012)

• Integrate greentech and cleantech into the general cooperation framework

• New call for research proposals in 2012

SOUTH AFRICA –SAUDI ARABIA

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Saudi Arabian System Overview

• High standard of economic development - but weak in most S&T indicators

• Most R&D and S&T in public and university sectors• Lack human resources for S&T development• Favourable number of patents compared to other

oil monarchies• Invest 0.2% of GNP in R&D• Focus on energy, water, agriculture, environment,

computational science and engineering

Programmes with Saudi Arabia

• Current focus on institutional collaboration

• Joint Committee meeting to be establishedAgree on areas of cooperation and appropriate

mechanisms for implementation

• Collaboration between universitiesEngineering research capabilities in Radar and

Electronic Defence, including a research clusters and HCD programmes

Future Plans with Saudi Arabia

• Interest to collaborate in astronomy (training of students in South Africa)

• Strengthen institutional linkages

• Possible fact-finding mission from Saudi Arabia

SOUTH AFRICA – MEXICOSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Mexican System Overview

• Efforts focused on macroeconomic stability and growth

• Little incentive to innovate / invest in R&D• R&D intensity one of the lowest in the OECD• Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) is

0.5% of GDP – real GERD growth is robust• Public institutions and universities important R&D

role-players• Business finances 47% of R&D

Mexican System Overview

• Patents and publications performance is low• International linkages are well developed

(especially with USA)• Technology exports grew strongly• Innovation policy provides most favourable tax

treatments in OECD

Mexican System Overview

• Key challenges for innovation:Education levels; competitive and regulatory

environment; low budget allocation and weak political commitment; insufficient infrastructure; weak intellectual property rights culture

Programmes with Mexico

• Collaboration at an institutional level (especially universities)Plant protection; zoological gardens; biological

control; astronomy; immunology; engineering; optics; genetics; medicine; infectious diseases; biochemistry and molecular biology

• Inter-government agreement signed in April 2010

Future Plans with Mexico

• Encourage institutional collaboration

• Jointly identified research and development projects not taken place due to the lack of funding

Conclusion

Dankie

Enkosi

Ha khensa

Re a leboga

Ro livhuwa

Siyabonga

Siyathokoza

Thank you