1. Unlocking the Future & Distinct SA Research Opportunities
Ben Durham
Background to the new framework, and instructions to Applicants

2. Focus Area Prog. Grants 2002
Focus Area Budget approx R80 mill

3. FA Prog. grants 2002
15.7% of FA budget to Social Sciences & Humanities

4. UTF grants 2002

5. Reason for FA’s
The purpose of the nine focus area programmes is to build the knowledge base by directing research into areas of strategic importance to South Africa
7 Directed Focus Areas have a particular topical subject/issue focus that are directly in line with national priorities.
Why more than this?

6. Reason for ‘Open’ FA’s 1) Distinct SA Research Opportunities
No. of issues / problems / opportunities that occur in SA that do not fall within the Directed FA’s
=>SA needs to have local expertise and generate local knowledge to understand & deal with these.

7. 1) Distinct SA Research Opportunities Examples (only) of (possible) research issues:
Transformation in SA society
SA cultural heritage & identity formation
SA geology
Southern Skies
SA health
SA palaeontology & archaeology

8. Reason for Open FA’s 2) Unlocking the Future: Advancing and
Reason for Open FA’s 2) Unlocking the Future: Advancing and Strengthening Strategic Knowledge
Innovation and discovery have no boundaries &
SA must build on and exploit the strengths &
advantages of current research community
Push frontiers of knowledge, develop theories, methodological innovation & discovery
Create, maintain & position the Knowledge base
Contribute to the sound fundamental base of Science
Ensure national & international recognition of high quality of research.

9. Practicalities:
1) Researchers must first seek a home in the more directed focus area programmes.
2) For DSA, researchers must convincingly motivate a) relevance to SA ito the distinctness or uniqueness of the ‘problem’ b) why the proposal does not fit elsewhere.
3) The minimum entry hurdle in UTF is ‘world class research”. Competition is fierce.
Focus Areas are moving towards more comprehensive funding for FEWER proposals.

10. New Framework: Who may apply for funding? Funding cycles:
Research staff based at NRF-recognized research institutions
Funding cycles:
Unrated researchers: Two years times three and then to obtain a rating
NRF-rated researchers: Up to 5 years, but synchronised with rating cycle

11. Alignment: rating & proposal

12. General Process Forms: http://submissions.nrf.ac.za/
Validation by institution
NRF screening
Postal peer review (NB. note change of target audience)
Panel assessment
Grant awards
Feedback (on request)
Appeals

13. Process : Peer review Scientific Merit: Postal Peer review:
4 - 6 reviewers (specialists). Applicant may nominate or veto
Significance
originality / innovation / importance / viability in terms of contribution to disciplines
Approach
Justification / methods / design / newness
Feasibility
expertise, progress, preliminary data

14. Process : Panel Context & relevance & funding
Consensus scientific merit informed by the peer reviewer reports *
Relevance to Focus Area *
Human Resource Capacity Development *
Strategic importance of outcomes *
Appropriateness of resources
Advice on fundability and level of funding
Student support
Operating costs
Staff development grants
* = ‘weighted’

15. Process : appeal
Applicants can query the outcome of their submission to gain more information and a perspective on the relationship between the quality of the proposal and the funding decision.
Because of the rigorous application of a national and international peer review process that provides benchmarking of the quality, appeals will normally not be considered.

16. Dept of Education: block grant
SA Research Support
Dept of Education: block grant
+/- R700 million
NRF
FA budget
80 mill
130 mill
Innovation Fund
THRIP
R180 mill

17. Summary Requested period of support varies
Scientific Merit reviewed by specialists
Generalist panel will advise on relevance & funding
Entry hurdle for Focus Area support is higher than ‘incremental & useful contributions’
Potential support for fewer researchers
More defendable decisions (feedback only on request).
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