1. An Overview of the National Research Foundation
Dr Albert van Jaarsveld
May 2014

2. NRF Mandate – NRF Act Promote and support research through in order to
funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities
in order to
facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge
and thereby to
contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all the people of the Republic
NRF Act, No 23 of 1998 2

4. knowledge economy in SA by
NRF Mission
To contribute to the
knowledge economy in SA by
attaining at least 1% of
global R&D output
by 2015

5. Passion for Excellence
NRF Values
Passion for Excellence
World-class Service
People-centred
Respect
Integrity and Ethics
Accountability

6. NRF Core Competencies Leading edge grant management systems
World class research benchmarking
State-of-the-art research platforms
Strategic science information and resources
Facilitation of international science co-operation
Science advancement through community engagement
Catalyst for research collaboration
Science and technology management

7. Investment Principles
Healthy balance: strategy-driven vs. demand-pull
Effective, goal oriented resource allocation
Competitive funding
Merit-based and rigorous peer review
The Ph.D. as a driver
Cross-fertilisation of talent within NSI
Fairness, transparency, accountability
Transformation and excellence

8. NRF Organisational Structure
NRF Board
Corporate Secretary
CEO
Deputy CEO: Astronomy
HartRAO
SA-SKA
Project
SAAO
Astro/ Geosciences
Biodiversity/ Environment
Nuclear
Deputy CEO: Strategy & National Research Facilities
Institutional Engagement & Partnership Development (IEPD)
Research Chairs & Centres of Excellence (RCCE)
Knowledge Fields Development (KFD)
Applied Research, Innovation & Collaboration (ARIC)
Human & Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD)
International Relations & Cooperation (IR&C)
Grants Management & Systems Administration (GMSA)
Reviews and Evaluation (RE)
Deputy CEO: Research & Innovation Support & Advancement (RISA)
SAIAB
NZG
SAEON
iThemba LABS
OPERATIONAL DIVISIONS
Strategy Unit
Strategy
Human Resources
Legal Services
Group Executive: Human Resources and Legal Services
Group Executive: Finance & Business Systems
ICT
Governance
Finance and SCM
Knowledge Management
Corporate Relations
CORPORATE SERVICES
Group Executive: Science Engagement and Corporate Relations
SAASTA
Science Awareness
Science Engagement
Science Education
Science Communication

9. Office of the CEO Albert van Jaarsveld Ziphora Legodi Magda Marx
Chief Executive Officer
Ziphora Legodi
Executive Assistant
Magda Marx
Board Secretariat
Frannie Bosman
Corporate Exec Assistant

10. The South African Science Landscape
DST
DHET
the dti
DE and DM
NDA
DoH
DAFF
DWEA
National Treasury
NRF
HEIs
SABS
Mintek
ARC
MRC
Weather Service
Business Enterprises
AISA
Other Departments DC
SANERI
WRC
TIA / BRICS
SEDA
HSRC
Council for Geoscience
MCM
CSIR
NECSA
SANBI
Level 1: High-level policy
Government Advisory: CHE, NACI, ASSAf
Level 2: Ministry
Level 3: Agency
Level 4: Research and Innovation Performers
SANSA

11. SET Policy Landscape 1996 2002 2004 2007 S&T White Paper R&D Strategy
S&T missions
10Yr Innovation
Plan
OECD Review
of SA NSI
Creation
of DST
New public S&T missions
Biotechnology
ICT
Advanced manufacturing
Astronomy
Knowledge-based economy
Grand challenges
Human capital development
NSI SWOT
Benchmarked
Developing the NSI

12. National Research Facilities
Innovation System Value Chain
Curiosity-driven research
Needs/market-driven research
Public appropriability
Open research
Directed research
Development
Commercialisation
Agency - Core Grant
NRF
THRIP
TIA
National Research Facilities
Product development
Technology development
Applied research
Basic research
Commercialisation
Public appropriability
Wealth creation

13. Knowledge Economy Index
World Bank (KAM 2012)

14. NRF Income Trend

15. Divisions of the NRF NRF Vision 2015
Science
Advancement
Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA)
National Research Facilities
Corporate support functions:
Finance and business systems
Human resources
Stakeholder relations

16. Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA)

17. Customer Centricity

18. Science Advancement (SAASTA)
Promoting the science of today,
for the world of tomorrow…

19. The National Research Facilities
Second pillar 19

20. Enkosi, Thank you, Re a leboga, Siyabonga, Dankie