Presentation to theParliamentary Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology

25 April 2012

Corporate Overview

22

Promote and support research

throughfunding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities

in order tofacilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge

and thereby tocontribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all the

NRF Mandate - NRF Act

33

NRF Core Competencies

•

Grant management systems

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Peer evaluation processes and systems

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Strategic and research information management & dissemination systems

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Providing research platforms

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Science and technology management expertise

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Specialised research capacity

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Catalyst for local & international research collaboration

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Science advancement expertise and platforms55

NRF Vision 2015 Progress

2008/9 Actual

2009/10 2010/112011/12 Target

2012/13 Target

2013/14 Target

2014/15 Target

Vision 2015Actual Target Actual Target

Promoting internationally competitive research

Proportion of Global R&D outputs 0.47% n/a 0.52% n/a 0.50% 0.54% 0.56% 0.60% 1%

Number of NRF rated researchers 1 914 2 142 2120 2 285 2250 2 400 2 560 2 560 2 740 2 500

Growing a representative science and technology workforce in South Africa

Proportion of NRF rated researchers from designated groups to total rated researchers

Black 16% 17% 17% 19% 17% 18% 18% 20% 21% 25%

Women 26% 27% 27% 28% 26% 27% 27% 29% 30% 35%

Operating world-class evaluation and grant-making systems

Completion rate of applications for NRF rating per annum 95% 99% 95% 99% 95% 95% 95% 95% 95% 95%

Proportion of available grant funding disbursed (R'000) 64% 84% 65% 81% 70% 86% 90% 90% 90% 100%

Providing cutting-edge research, technology and innovation platforms

Peer-reviewed journal articles (ISI and others) authored or co-authored by National Research Facility researchers 180 181 186 220 180 170 168 181 197 250

Contributing to a vibrant national innovation system

Doctoral students supported 1 370 1 384 1370 1 937 1220 1 519 1 715 2 181 2 231 2 000

66

NRF Strategic Environment

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National Research and Development Strategy 2002

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10-Year Innovation Plan 2012

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DHET funding framework - transformational goals

−

Equitable student access; quality of teaching and research; student progression rates; equity in allocation of government funds; efficiency & effectiveness of use of funds

12 outcomes of government

77

NRF Strategic Environment

DST performance areasDST & NRF performance areas

Indirect NRF contribution through funded research

88

Curiosity-driven research Needs/market-driven research

Public appropriability

Development CommercialisationOpen research Directed research

Agency - Core Grant

NRF THRIP

TIA

National Research Facilities

Product development

Technology development

Applied research

Basic research Commercialisation

Public appropriability Wealth creation

Innovation System Value Chain

NRF Investment (R&D Strategy & Innovation Plan)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

R 'mil

1010

Grand Challenges

Cutting Edge Research Platforms (Equipment)

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

R 'mil

1111

Financial plan

1212

NRF Sources of Income

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Baseline allocation reduced by 0.8%•

Designated income of R1.2b (61% of total income) includes R961m for HCD

1313

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

R 'mil

NRF Investment Principles

• Balance between strategy-driven and demand-driven investment approach

• Competitive, merit-based funding for all types of funding applications

• Investment takes transformation imperatives into account

• Fairness, transparency and accountability apply in investment processes

• Appropriate investment choices are made to ensure efficient service delivery

• NRF invests in the rotation of expertise and talent within the NSI

• PhD is regarded as important systems driver 1414

NRF MTEF Allocation 2012/13

• 2010/11 Baseline = R 1 078 945

1515

NRF Savings, Efficiency & Austerity Measures

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Leverage economies of scale by negotiating rates with suppliers

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Cost saving through automated processes such as NRF online submission system; & workflow for SCM

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Benchmarking of organisational overheads against similar organisations

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Implementation of staff plan has commenced•

5-year review recommendations are being implemented•

PRMB liability reduction through buy-out (R 136m to R 12m)•

Roll-out of student tracking system

Flat baseline allocation for 2012/13Efficiency savings of R45m across organisation

1616

Human Resources

1717

NRF Staff Plan

Plan includes:

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Information & analysis of current staff profile – race, gender, age, level of employment, length of service, total numbers and vacancies

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Implications of profile

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Proposal for 2012/13 staff establishment considered the following in terms of estimated costs and current budget:~ Vacant positions ~ Required positions

~ Optimal structure ~ Succession planning

~ Employment equity ~ Training & development

• 2012/13 implementation strategy

1818

DIVISIONS OF nrf

1919

Research & Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA)

2020

RISA Income

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

R '000

2121

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

2222

RISA Human Capacity Development Funding Trends

0

2

4

6

8

10

R 'mil

• New SARChI allocations to be utilised in 2012/13 will impact investment levels in Strategic and Next Generation areas

• Growth in 2011/12 and 2012/13 can be attributed to the continuing roll out of new funding programmes and new designated income

• The growth in Next Generation and Emerging Researchers in 2010/11 is due to an additional allocation from DST

• Strategic investments includes the SARChI and CoE programmes2323

Next Generation Researchers

• The growth in free standing scholarships in 2010/11 is due to an additional allocation from DST

• The DHET investment in the Scarce Skills programme resulted in considerable growth in Free standing scholarships investment in 2011/12 and 2012/13

• New designated income referred to in the MTEF letter has a positive effect on the 2012/13 budget

• The take-up of the 60 recently awarded chairs will result in an increase in the grant holder-linked bursary investment

0

2

4

6

8

10

R 'mil

2424

2009/10

Actual

2010/11

Actual

2011/12

Projected

2012/13

Target

2013/14

Target

2014/15

TargetBTech/ Hons 1 696 2 718 1 700 1 950 2 428 2 355

Masters 2 373 3 566 2 820 3 390 3 904 3 830

Doctoral 1 384 1 937 1 519 1 715 2 181 2 231

Post Doctoral 304 405 381 390 420 440

Number of students supported by the NRF

Next Generation Researchers

2525