1. National Research Foundation
Presentation forTrade &
Industry Portfolio Comm.
Dr Rocky Skeef - 28 may 2002
website -

2. Structure of NRF Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
NRF Board
President & CEO
Research Support Agency
(RSA)
Corporate:
Finance
Human Res.
PR & Comm.
National Research Facilities:
iThemba
SAAO
HartRAO
SAIAB
HMO
Staff ~550

3. Building Knowledge Base Mission driven funding
RSA: Agency Function
Building Knowledge Base
Mission driven funding
THRIP (DTI)
Innovation Fund (DACST)
Skills Development (DoL)
Other (e.g. DEAT)
Focus Area Programmes
Research Capacity Development
Others (e.g. ICE)
Knowledge Management
Strategic Advice
Evaluation
Research Information
Others (e.g. IT, IPR)

4. Alignment of THRIP with Key Emerging National/DTI Policies
THRIP is a key role player in the realisation of the following emerging policies:
Integrated Manufacturing Strategy;
Microeconomic Reform Strategy;
Integrated Strategies to Support Small Business.
Strengthening of support for these policies is on-going

5. TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RESOURCES FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAMME (THRIP)
Objectives
To facilitate the supply of appropriate high level skills for industry
To encourage interaction between researchers & technology managers in industry, HEIs & SETIs
To increase industry’s investment in research, technology development & technology diffusion

6. THRIP: Funding Criteria
General Access Formula:
R1 THRIP for R2 Industry: If all THRIP criteria are being met
Special Access Formula:
R1 for R1: Where at least 1 of the following THRIP priorities apply:
at least 5 students involved of which > 50% are black or female
SMMEs invest financially
More than 1 industrial partner collaborating

7. THRIP Performance Information

8. Distribution of THRIP Funding Between Institutions for 2001
Total = R134 million

9. Participation of Firms in THRIP during 2001
Total Funding
= R298 million
Total Number = 372

10. Composition of Researchers & Students supported through THRIP during 2001
Researcher Type
Black
Female
Total
Principal Researcher 14 18
220
Team Members
105
193
767
Post-Docs 8 17 61
127
228
1048
Researchers
Student Category
Black
Female
Foreign
Total
Undergrad 47 26 4 82
Hons
247
135 10
456
Masters
449
360 92
1194
TIPTOPs 34 21
119
Doctoral
138
177 88
597
915
719
194
2448
Students

11. THRIP-supported outputs for 2001
Number
Pulications
3580
Patents
100
Products
500

14. THRIP Success: Automotive Industry Design and Development of New Inlet Manifold US + Gemtech + VW South Africa Total investment: R1.3 million
Outcome:
Gemtech awarded R 25 million export contract to China for 2000 by VW SA with likelihood for renewal

15. Conclusion
NRF is an important role player in the realisation of key government/DTI policy objectives
THRIP is well positioned to enable these objectives in the medium to long term and should be funded more comprehensively to make a meaningful contribution
The mandate, infrastructure and experience of the NRF position it favourably to engage the DTI beyond THRIP