1. The Ten-Year Innovation Plan for South Africa: Opportunities for International Partnerships
International Conference on Scientific and Technological Innovation: National Experience and International Cooperation
Novotneho Lavka, 5, Prague, Czech Republic, 21 May 2009
Vuyani Lingela, General Manager,
International Cooperation and Research

2. Contents Innovation Policy Landscape
Economic Transformation – towards a knowledge-based economy
SA’s “Grand Challenges”
Innovation as a National Imperative
Innovation Instruments
Human Capital Development
S&T Across Government
Conclusion

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

4. Towards a Knowledge Economy
KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY
RESOURCE-BASED ECONOMY

5. The Knowledge Economy
The Four Pillars of the Knowledge Economy

6. Towards a Knowledge Economy
Knowledge is the basic form of capital for Innovation
Knowledge generation, accumulation and exploitation
Economic growth is driven by Innovation
Key driver for Innovation is “high-end” human capital: PhD
PhD as the key foundation for achieving the objectives of the National System of Innovation (NSI)

7. Economic & Scientific Wealth
Source: DA King, Nature 430 (2004) 311 (15 July 2004)

8. The Ten-Year Innovation Plan
Enablers
Farmer to pharma
Human & social science
Global change
Energy
Space science
Technology development and innovation
Human capital - Centres of excellence, South African research chairs initiative, professional development programme, etc.
Knowledge infrastructure – Science councils, state-owned enterprises, global projects
Cross- cutting enablers
Grand challenges

9. Farmer to Pharmaceutical
For South Africa’s biotechnology industry to grow, a number of critical factors need to be satisfied, including:
Greater networking and collaboration (domestic and international) across all sectors (academia, science councils, industry and government)
The development of business skills to help identify viable projects
A clearer strategic focus on selected platforms and markets
Improved funding mechanisms to close the gap between basic research and commercialisation; and shorter turnaround times between application and receipt of funding
Investment in platforms (including infrastructure) to bridge the gap between research and commercial
Implementation South Africa has a range of natural

10. Societal benefits of space science
Disasters - Reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced disasters
Health - Understanding environmental factors affecting human health
Energy - Managing energy resources
Climate variability and change - Adapting to climate variability and change
Water - Improving resource management
Weather - Improving forecasting and warning
Protection of ecosystems - Improved management of terrestrial, coastal, and marine resources
Agriculture - Supporting sustainable agriculture and combating desertification
Conserving biodiversity - Understanding, monitoring, and conserving biodiversity

11. Space industry

12. Major R&D Thrusts Energy Clean coal
Nuclear technologies in support Eskom Build Programme
Renewables (Special focus on Solar technologies)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

13. Societal benefits of earth observation
SAEOSS
GEOSS is a global distributed system, including satellite observation systems, Global in situ networks and systems, And local and regional in situ networks.
GEOSS will deliver the benefits of EO to both data & information providers and consumers world wide.

14. Human and social science
In today’s world, behaviour, science and technology are deeply intertwined,
The socioeconomic problems that we face require focused work by teams of cross-disciplinary experts;
Technologies cannot be developed without giving thought to how they will affect and be received by human beings.
to increase our ability to anticipate the complex consequences of change;
to better understand the dynamics of human and social behaviour at all levels;
to better understand the cognitive and social structures that create and define change; and
to help people and organisations better manage profound or rapid change.

15. Innovation Instruments
Bridging the “Innovation Chasm”
TIA
Production &
Commercialisation
Knowledge
Production
Development

16. Basic Applied Tech Develop Transfer & Proliferation DOE/NRF NRF/DST
Research Chairs
PGP & HCD instruments
RISA instruments
COEs
Centres of Competency
Basic
Applied
Tech Develop
Transfer &
Proliferation
DOE/NRF
NRF/DST
DST/TIA
PBF/DTI
Innovation Fund
BRICs
SPII & PII
SEDA
Khula
IDC
Publications/new knowledge
Patents/new knowledge products

17. TIA PBF Basic Applied Tech Develop Transfer & Proliferation NRF IDC
Specialist
Research Funds
Venture
Capital
International
Research Funds
SEDA
PBF
Publications/new knowledge
Patents/new knowledge products

18. Competency Centres TI Fund IP Support Hydrogen Economy BRICS AMI AMTS
Venture
Capital Access
Enterprise
Development
Competency Centres
Hydrogen
Economy
BRICS
AMI
AMTS

19. Human Capital Development
Increase the number of knowledge workers: Researchers
Increase the productivity of researchers
Address inequalities: Race, gender, regional & institutional distribution
Introducing appropriate Innovation Instruments in the National System of Innovation

20. Knowledge-based Economies

21. Strategic Positioning
South Africa In
2026 (20 yrs)
A 5 x increase to present situation
IN WHICH LEAGUE DO WE WANT TO PLAY?
Country
Factor
China??
X 0.34
India??
X 0.44
Brazil
X 1.9
Taiwan
X 2.3
Japan
X 4.9
USA
X 6.1
South Korea
X 6.8 UK
X 8.2
Australia
X 9.7
South Africa In
2026 (20yrs)
A 10 x increase to future situation

22. Points of leverage from current situation
< 10% proceed from a basic degree to pursue honours
2. Only 19% proceed from Masters to Doctoral studies 1 2
HG Maths and
Science ~ per yr
Existing
National SET
pipeline (2005)
SET graduation rates ~per yr
Hons grad rates~ per yr
Masters ~ per yr (incl. coursework)
PhD’s ~
per yr
26,000
33,500
3,200
2,900
561

23. Research Outputs (International Comparison)

24. Research Outputs (Patents)

25. Conclusions ICSTI Member Sates Grand Challenges
Innovation Actors
Higher
Education
Research Institutions
Industry
Government/Public
Institutions
Grand
Challenges
Farmer to
pharmer
Sapce
science
Energy
Global
change
Human and
Social science
Innovation Actors
Higher
Education
Research Institutions
Industry
Government/Public
Institutions
South African National Resources

26. THANK YOU Vuyani Lingela, General Manager: International Cooperation and Research, Department of Science and Technology Tel: , Cell: , Fax: Postal Address: Private Bag X 894, Pretoria 0001, South Africa Physical Address: Building 53, Meiring Naude Road, CSIR Campus, Pretoria 0184, South Africa