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Excellent progress was made with the strategic alignment of contract R&D with the core focus of the CSIR. Indicative of this is the increase in public funding and strategic international collaborative contracts (largely on next generation techniques and systems).
Some 50% of the contract R&D income earned in 2006/07 is in support of relevant national strategies and technology missions.
The quality of the CSIR's stakeholder relationships with the public sector has evolved substantially. This is reflected in a significant increase in the proportion of R&D being managed through strategically planned programmes in line with the CSIR’s value proposition.
The CSIR has provided leadership on emerging national and international initiatives subscribed to by the South African government. These include the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA); the NEPAD Africa S&T plan; the European Union S&T Framework; and national sectoral plans, which include the National Biotechnology Strategy, the National Spatial Development Framework, the Grant Information System, the Limpopo Infrastructure Maintenance Policy, the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS), the Energy and Fuel Cells Strategy, the National Nanotech Strategy, the dti Customised Sector Programmes, the ICT R&D Strategy, the National Accessibility Portal, and the Mine, Health and Safety Council.
Additional highlights include participation in the National Working Group on the Information Society and Development of the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development, and the CSIR's leadership role in the Open Source Working group of GITOC, which developed the free and open source software (FOSS) strategy recently adopted by Cabinet.
Good progress was made with securing multi-year R&D contracts, including the TB drug delivery project, the Light Materials Development Network (LMDN) multi-year contract with the DST (R15,4 million per year), the textile Centre of Excellence agreement with the dti (R5-7 million per year), the advanced production and investment casting agreements with the AMTS (R5-7 million per year) and the hydrogen infrastructure and production agreement with the DST (R3-5 million per year).
Further highlights of contract R&D undertaken for public sector stakeholders include:
- The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government to advise and assist the province in developing a provincial broadband strategy
- The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the areas of air quality, pollution and waste, and marine and coastal management
- The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in various areas of collaboration and support to aid policy implementation.
- Integrated planning development and modelling for the DST
- Monitoring and evaluation of water and sanitation projects for DWAF
- National spatial development perspective district application for The Presidency
- Development of an Infrastructure Maintenance Policy, Strategy and Programme for the
Limpopo Department of Health.
More information about projects is available under CSIR research areas.
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