The CSIR has supported the South African National Defence Force with technology and concept development, modelling and simulation, experiment and exercise support, integration and interoperability, and information systems since the late 1990s. As a result, a number of technology platforms were created, which are now the foundation for solutions in other domains. The CSIR’s command and control systems group has sound skills and capabilities in enterprise architecture, systems and software engineering and software development. The capabilities are drawn upon to support public, state-owned and private sector partners on data analytics, fourth industrial revolution technologies, artificial intelligence, security, communications technologies, blockchains, collaborative platforms, integrated systems, and whole-of-government and whole-of- society approaches.

Supported sectors include health, transport, environmental, correctional services, utilities and production. Activities in these sectors range from data collection, analytics, conservation, biological management, protection, enforcement, security, safety, operations and resource and asset management. The group also undertakes the development of bespoke software solutions to assist its partners with their operations.