Post on 25-Dec-2015
transcript
Portfolio Committee Briefing
Science and Technology cooperation agreements between SA and
France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico
Mr Mmboneni Muofhe
Some stats on DST international engagements
• Number of Agreements– Overseas bilateral: 34
• Active: 23
– Africa bilateral: 19• Active 10
– OVERALL TOTAL: 53– TOTAL ACTIVE:33
Why engage in international cooperation
• Research is too costly for one country to bear alone• Many problems requiring scientific knowledge and expertise do
not respect borders• Scientific talent and world-class facilities are located in many
nations around the globe• Certain scientific problems require access to particular
geographic sites• The growing appetite and need for big science – mega projects• Science diplomacy
Modalities of Cooperation
• Joint calls
• Policy dialogues
• Student and staff exchanges
• Competitive calls
• Workshops and conferences
French System Overview
• Highly educated population
• Good R&D intensity
• Increasing annual R&D spend
• Leading exporter of nuclear technology
• Amongst the top knowledge generators
Programmes with French Government
• Technical Expert seconded to TIA – innovation management
• SAFeTI research programme – information and communication technologies (CSIR)
• SAFeWATER research programme – water-related research (WRC)
• Research exchanges – nanotechnology related, HCD and student training
Programmes with French Government
• Call for research proposals – 72 projects and 18 networking activities (R10 471 418)Life sciences; Engineering; New materials; Health
sciences; Physics
• F’SATI (Frenco South African Technical Institute) – training in electrical and electronic engineering (French Embassy = R5.1 million – 28 B.Tech, 63 M.Tech, 14 D.Tech, 8 PhDs and 2 Post-Docs)
• Free access to synchrotron Soleil
Impact of French cooperation
• Trilateral cooperation – laser research pilot project (South Africa, France and Senegal)
• ERA-NET AFRICA – increased cooperation and coordination through the networking of research programmes
• ICEMASA – setting up an international joint laboratory on Marine Sciences
Future Plans with France
• The South African-French Seasons – to celebrate achievements and to stimulate interest in young scientists (French season in SA – Jul-Nov-2012; South African Season in France – Jul-Nov 2013)
• Joint Committee meeting – early 2013 – to map the way forward
Swiss System Overview
• World leader in spending for R&D, publications and patents per capita
• One of top three countries in environmental sciences publications
• Prominent in biosciences research
• A strong industrial base
Strength of the Swiss System
• Very good university sector – strong academic output (people and publications) and impact
• Economy is modern, very specialised and service-oriented
• Leader in biotechnology sector within Europe
Programmes with Swiss Government
• Research Programme (2008) – R84 million; 16 projects
• Biotech Business Development – focus on young career scientists – encourage innovation under the Science to Market (S2M) collaborating instrument
• Seed funding call (2011) – industry-oriented projects; 9 projects – R7,7 million
Impact of Swiss cooperation
• Bioeconomy – a first pharmaceutical plant to manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for Anti-Retroviral Medicines in South Africa
• Human Capital Development:– 10 students attended a Bio-entrepreneurship
School;– 8 scholarships awarded for a Bio-entrepreneur
programme in Switzerland
Future Plans with Switzerland
• Prolong research projects till end 2012
• A wrap-up workshop to celebrate success and to take stock (November 2012)
• Integrate greentech and cleantech into the general cooperation framework
• New call for research proposals in 2012
Saudi Arabian System Overview
• High standard of economic development - but weak in most S&T indicators
• Most R&D and S&T in public and university sectors• Lack human resources for S&T development• Favourable number of patents compared to other
oil monarchies• Invest 0.2% of GNP in R&D• Focus on energy, water, agriculture, environment,
computational science and engineering
Programmes with Saudi Arabia
• Current focus on institutional collaboration
• Joint Committee meeting to be establishedAgree on areas of cooperation and appropriate
mechanisms for implementation
• Collaboration between universitiesEngineering research capabilities in Radar and
Electronic Defence, including a research clusters and HCD programmes
Future Plans with Saudi Arabia
• Interest to collaborate in astronomy (training of students in South Africa)
• Strengthen institutional linkages
• Possible fact-finding mission from Saudi Arabia
Mexican System Overview
• Efforts focused on macroeconomic stability and growth
• Little incentive to innovate / invest in R&D• R&D intensity one of the lowest in the OECD• Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) is
0.5% of GDP – real GERD growth is robust• Public institutions and universities important R&D
role-players• Business finances 47% of R&D
Mexican System Overview
• Patents and publications performance is low• International linkages are well developed
(especially with USA)• Technology exports grew strongly• Innovation policy provides most favourable tax
treatments in OECD
Mexican System Overview
• Key challenges for innovation:Education levels; competitive and regulatory
environment; low budget allocation and weak political commitment; insufficient infrastructure; weak intellectual property rights culture
Programmes with Mexico
• Collaboration at an institutional level (especially universities)Plant protection; zoological gardens; biological
control; astronomy; immunology; engineering; optics; genetics; medicine; infectious diseases; biochemistry and molecular biology
• Inter-government agreement signed in April 2010
Future Plans with Mexico
• Encourage institutional collaboration
• Jointly identified research and development projects not taken place due to the lack of funding