1. Research and Human Resources Development Funding Opportunities of
the NRF
Presentation at the
PLUME PROGRAMME:FIRST CENTRAL WORKSHOP
OF LEAD RESEARCHERS AND HEADS OF SCHOOLS NURSING
Pretoria 13 July 2012
Dr. Andrew M. Kaniki
Executive Director: Knowledge Fields Development 1

2. Research - Innovation System Value Chain National Research Facilities
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

3. THE NRF MANDATE Support and promote research
Through 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 contribute to
The improvement of the quality of life of all the people of The Republic
National Research Foundation Act of 1998

5. 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

6. Support for Grant Holders
2010/ 11 R R R
2009/ 10
2008/ 09
2007/ 08

7. Human Capacity Development Excellence Pipeline
Year
Studentship Support
Thuthuka PhD track
Postdoc
Thuthuka Post-PhD track
Thuthuka Rating track
Competitive Funding Unrated
Incentive Funding Rated
Competitive Funding Rated
Blue-sky Research
SARChI
CoE
2008/09
183.20
5.65
23.09
2.38
5.67 -
10.50
100.01
51.15
2009/10
183.53
4.90
27.41
1.96
5.98
3.02
44.41
2.92
108.43
63.84
2010/11
307.34
4.18
48.30
2.41
5.75
5.21
70.98
5.10
3.54
141.43
68.77
2011/12 Budget
254.47
4.46
37.09
5.64
5.93
6.01
79.00
18.36
9.23
182.69
67.90
2012/13 Budget
318.59
13.37
53.71
13.01
11.21
6.87
100.00
28.39
15.25
302.36
69.52

8. Research Funding Programmes - KFD
CORE FUNDING PROGRAMMES
Blue skies research programme
Centres of Excellence
Competitive Support for unrated researchers (CSUR)
Competitive programme for rated researchers (CPRR)
Community Engagement
Community University Partnership Programme
Education Research
Incentive Programme for Rated Researchers
CONTRACT AND RING-FENCED FUNDING
AOP; CUPP; IKS; MWLA; NAASP; SEAChange; SABI; SANAP; MWLA
Cf: Overview of NRF Funding Opportunities and Rating of Researchers

9. Funding Opportunities for Masters and Doctoral students
South African Research Chairs
FirstRand Foundation Mathematics Education Chairs
SA Numeracy and Literacy Research Chair
Centres of Excellence
Freestanding scholarships
Grantholder-linked bursaries
Thuthuka Programme
Institutional Capacity Development

10. Funding programmes - HICD
Thuthuka programme aimed at the development of human capacity primarily at South African higher educational institutions, particularly among previously disadvantaged socio-economic groups (i.e. black researchers and female researchers), as well as young academics from all backgrounds.
Applicants apply for funding in one of three tracks:
PhD Track: for applicants, wanting to obtain a PhD within the funding period;
Post-PhD Track: for applicants wanting to become established researchers, strengthening their research capabilities; and
NRF Rating Track: for applicants wanting to obtain a NRF rating within the six-year funding period.

11. Funding Programmes - HICD
Institutional Capacity Development (ICD): The ICD research grants programme replaced the Institutional Research Development Programme (IRDP), commonly known as Research Niche Areas (RNAs), phasing out concurrently with the implementation of the ICD.
ICD research grants aim to support the development of institutional research capacity as well as the academic and professional development of researchers.

12. Funding Programmes - HICD
The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) focused knowledge and human resource intervention that has five interrelated objectives.
to reverse the systemic decline in research outputs, focus and capacity at publicly funded higher education institutions and research councils
to stimulate strategic research across the knowledge spectrum
to strengthen and improve the capacity of HEIs, Science Councils, Musea and University linked Teaching Hospitals to generate and apply new knowledge in order to make South Africa competitive in the international knowledge economy based on its existent and potential strengths
to create research career pathways for highly skilled, high quality young and mid-career researchers that effectively addresses historical racial, gender and age imbalances
to improve and accelerate the training of highly qualified personnel through research

13. Contact Details
Human & Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Directorate:
Executive Director: Dr. Romilla Maharaj
Human Capacity Programme (Scholarships & Fellowships)
Dr Thandi Mgwebi
Thuthuka and ICD
Dr Claire Botha
Research Chairs & the PhD Programme
Dr. Linda Mtwisha
Knowledge Fields Development (KFD) Directorate
Executive Director: Dr. Andrew M. Kaniki
Blue Skies Research; Education Research; IKS; Incentive Programme for Rated Researchers Researchers; Other Strategic Contract Programmes
Dr. Kaluke Mawila
Community Engagement; CPRR Other strategic contract programmes
Mrs. Tracy Klarenbeek

14. Contact Details Knowledge Fields Development
Centre Of Excellence; Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers Dr. Nthabiseng Taole.
Global Change Research; Marine and Coastal Research & other strategic contracts. Dr. Achuo Enow

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