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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 established Agree on areas of cooperation and appropriate mechanisms for implementation • Collaboration between universities Engineering 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 – MEXICO SCIENCE 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