GCGC – Knowledge Generation Component Occasion: Briefing to S&T Portfolio Committee Date: 9 March 2016

Context Ten Year Innovation Plan, 2008 National Research & Development Strategy, 2003 White Paper on Science & Technology, 1996 Strategic policy documentsSub-strategic document GCGC Implementation Framework Programme portfolios Knowledge Generation Science-Policy Interface Technology Innovation Programme Space Science Energy Security Bio-economy Social & Human Dynamics

Global change refers to an interconnected set of phenomena, resulting largely from human actions which have altered the environment over virtually the entire planet at an accelerating rate during modern times. It includes changes to the composition of the atmosphere; the nutrient loading of the biosphere; the global, regional, and local climate; the distribution and abundance of species; the cover and use of the land surface and the use of marine resources; the size, location, and resource demands of the world's human population, as well as its patterns of governance and economic activity.

–Knowledge generation - improving scientific understanding of global change –Science-policy interface - bridging a gap between science and policy development –Technology development - building resilience or capacity of key economic sectors and society to adapt to global change Major Components

GCGC design drivers The form, shape, and structure of the Global Change Grand Challenge is a South African programme that must support science and technology as well as key social, economic development, and environmental management objectives Global Change Grand Challenge National Sustainable Development Framework, 2008 Climate Change Response Strategy, 2004 Research and Development Strategy, 2002 White Paper on Science and Technology, 1996 National Industrial Policy Framework, 2007 Sectoral Policies (water, agriculture, etc.) NCCRP, 2011NDP, 2012

–SCIENCE: Extent to which scientific understanding of global change has improved as a result of South African research efforts, nationally, continentally, and internationally –TECHNOLOGY: Extent to which South African has contributed to the development and deployment of innovative technologies that support appropriate responses to the negative impacts of environmental changes, particularly climate change –RELEVENCE: Extent to which decision-makers have used improved scientific understanding and technological development to achieve sustainable development goals in South Africa and Africa Balanced Performance Scorecard – with 5 impact areas developed Primary Performance Measures

DST Strategic Objective: To develop the innovation capacity of the NSI and thereby contribute to socio-economic development P5 Strategic Objective 2: To identify, grow and sustain a portfolio of high-potential science, technology and innovation capabilities for sustainable development and the greening of society and the economy P4 Strategic Objective 4: from 2014/15 To strategically develop priority science areas in which South Africa enjoys a competitive advantage, by promoting internationally competitive research and training activities and outputs Strategic Objectives

GC Research Plan

GCRP An integral part of the GCGC focused on generating new knowledge Purpose – Improve the scientific understanding of global environmental change Key principles underpinning the Research Plan: Multi/trans/inter-disciplinary (and systems) approach to research SA geographical location - close proximity to 3 oceans Status – GCRP currently implemented through various DST- funded research programmes e.g. ACCESS, AEON, SAEON, GCSSRP, RVSC, SOCCO, FBIP etc. Funding – Through GC annual transfers to NRF

Centre of Excellence Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Studies ( ACCESS ) Large scale research programme Global Change, Society, and Sustainability South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Africa Earth Observation Network (AEON) programmes Inkaba ye Africa/ !Khure Africa Space Agency (Global Change Monitoring Network) South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (R&V Atlas) SA Polar Research Entity Global Change Performance and Investment Council Knowledge Brokering Support Unit R&V science centres Bureau for Global Change Science Science Committee Intn’l Resource Mobilising Team

Centre of Excellence Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Studies ( ACCESS ) Large scale research programme Global Change, Society, and Sustainability South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Africa Earth Observation Network (AEON) programmes Inkaba ye Africa/ !Khure Africa Space Agency (Global Change Monitoring Network) South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (R&V Atlas) SA Polar Research Entity Global Change Performance and Investment Council Knowledge Brokering Support Unit R&V science centres Bureau for Global Change Science Science Committee Intn’l Resource Mobilising Team Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme

Key programmes & initiatives

A virtual network of collaborating partners (research entities and universities) in earth systems science Purpose – To advance earth system research and provides a platform for education and training required to address the global change challenges Status – Fully operational with well defined research and education & training programmes; Funding – As a COE via service level agreement CSIR – Host institution Future priorities – Grow ACCESS network, including international collaborations; Increase knowledge outputs; Produce a cohort of 300 Masters and 200 PhDs by 2016/17 ACCESS

ACCESS - Highlights Education &Training Research & collaborations

A network of partners (research entities and organisations) focusing on (earth) observational science to bring more certainty about environmental change, and to enable formulation of adaptive and mitigating management policies and practices Purpose – To coordinate and support long-term in-situ environmental observation systems Status – Fully operational with 6 nodes providing and generating observational records on environmental change; Contributing to State of Environmental Reporting by DEA Funding - Through NRF (as an NRF programme) Future priorities – Continue providing world-class observation and monitoring on environmental change and to be involved policy relevant research; SAEON

SAEON - Highlights Products Instrumentation

A centre that provides a research and educational environment to seek consilient knowledge amongst earth and life sciences, engineering, resource economics and the human sciences Purpose – To foster cutting-edge, internationally-connected, science and analytical learning using advanced tools and technologies in an environment that encourages interdisciplinary science to explore the earth, particularly in Africa Status – Runs 2 successful programmes – Inkaba ye Africa & !Khure Africa; Discovered a diamond finger printing technique; Produces about 2/3 of the post-graduate students supported through GC funding Funding - Through a contract with host institution (NMMU) NMMU – Host institution Future priorities – Increase contribution to GC performance targets and global body of knowledge; Increase participation in strategic research (e.g. shale gas exploration in the Karoo) AEON

AEON - Highlights Education & Training Research Equipment

A CSIR-led multi- institutional South African initiative aiming to understand the link between climate and the carbon cycle in the Southern Ocean Purpose – To develop better understanding and projecting the role of the Southern Ocean on global and regional climate Status – Fully operational: Phase 2 Funding - Through a contract with CSIR Future priorities – Deployment of more gliders and to other parts of the Southern Oceans; Development of climate coupled model; SOCCO

SOCCO - Highlights InstrumentationResearch -Biogeochemistry -Physics -Iron -Bio-optics -Carbon -Modelling

A new integrated programme consolidating previous biodiversity projects and initiatives (SABI, SABIF, GEO-BON, SATOL, IBOL, SAIAB) Purpose – To provide a seamless value chain from fundamental biodiversity information production to dissemination and application to benefit society and support decision-making Status – Fully operational with first cohort of projects; Governance and management structures in place Funding - Through NRF GC funding allocation SANBI – Manages the implementation of FBIP, NRF the grant management Full priorities – Increased contribution to global change research, sustainable development (green economy); Increased private sector role; Leverage funding from beneficiaries such as DEA, DAFF etc FBIP

FBIP - Highlights A large collaboration that aims to collate and increase marine biodiversity information and translate this information into products to support decision making and the development of new benefits for South African society - National species lists, new species records, Encyclopaedia of Life pages, DNA barcodes, new species descriptions and identification guides Partners - 17 different organisations with researchers, post-graduate students, citizen scientists, and marine managers.

A complimentary programme focusing on building capabilities of rural-based universities in the areas of environmental risk assessment and other related services to local users Purpose – To support decision-making at local level by providing services related environmental risks and vulnerability Status – Fully operational with 3 universities (Limpopo; Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu) participating Funding - Through GC funding to NRF Future priorities – Increase student enrolment; Increase knowledge outputs; Increase number of centres; Co-funding from other sources R&V Science Centres

A research programme focusing on social-ecological domains of the global change research (knowledge areas C&D of the GCRP) Purpose – To challenge efforts and investments into social-ecological or sustainability research to which less attention has been paid compared to the traditional bio-physical sciences Status – Fully operational with first cohort of projects; Governance and management structures in place Funding - Through NRF GC funding allocation NRF - manages the implementation of programmes and projects by various institutions Future priorities – Decide on the future of the programme; GCSSRP

1.KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION OUTPUTS AND ASSETS -Scientific publications -IP products (patents, licences, technology demonstrators and packages etc) -New business enterprises created 100 scientific publication/yr; 2 IP products/yr 2. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT & TRANSFORMATION -Student bursaries -Support for supervisors -Grants for development of researcher -Internships -SA researchers in international research programmes 250 post-graduate bursaries/yr; Grants/financial support to researchers – over R1m/yr; Recruited interns 3. SA AS PREFERRED RESEARCH DESTINATION -Foreign researchers undertaking global change research in South Africa -Collaborative research and development activities with international research institutions SATREPS (seasonal variation); SASSCAL; 4. IMPACT & RELEVANCE -Contribution to sustainable development and key Government priorities -Influence/contribution to policy development and decision-making SeaKey project; SOCCO project; systematic environmental observation by SAEON; Overall performance vs Scorecard 5. INVESTMENT -Increased public investment in research in line with GERD target of 1% -Increased private sector investment -Leveraged international funding Fiscus funding - R65m/yr; Leveraged funding – R5m/yr

Repositioning of ACCESS as a Strategic Programme Manager performing function; Development of an earth systems science R&D flagship programme that draws on ACCESS network; Mid-term review of GCGC (jointly with Programmes 5 & 1); On-going contribution and reporting against Outcome 10 MTSF performance indicators for DST; Strengthening interface and DST’s contribution to Operation Phakisa’s Oceans Economy Immediate priorities

Create additional instruments (SARChi chairs and CoE’s) to support the implementation of the GCRP and global change research programmes; Strengthen GC governance & management structures; Establish a community of practice in global change monitoring and observation; Expand the R&V Science Centres in NW, KZN, NC, Mpumalanga; Strengthen interface with regional science initiatives – SASSCAL and SADC work programmes. Medium to long-term priorities

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