STI Decadal Plan 2022-2032 implementation; Inter-Ministerial Committee outcomes; 2024 STI Presidential Plenary briefing; with Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation received a comprehensive briefing from the Minister and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) regarding the implementation of the 2022-2032 STI Decadal Plan. Minister Blade Nzimande emphasised that no country could achieve industrialisation or development in the 21st century without robust STI capabilities. He highlighted significant challenges, including a downward trend in gross domestic investment in research and development (R&D), which currently stands at 0.61% of GDP, far below the 1.5% target. The Minister and the Director-General (DG) detailed the impact of geopolitical shifts, specifically the withdrawal of US funding for health research, which has placed over 2 000 research positions and R2.5 billion in funding at risk. The Department outlined progress in key "Grand Challenges," including the hydrogen economy, space science, and the circular economy. Notable achievements included the declaration of the African Institute on Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Category 2 centre and the development of a locally produced oral cholera vaccine. During the discussion, Members expressed deep concerns regarding the realism of doubling the R&D budget in four years and the perceived lack of coordination between government departments. Questions were raised about the sustainability of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) laboratories, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of work, and serious allegations of bullying and maladministration within the National Research Foundation (NRF) and vaccine procurement contracts. The Committee resolved to strengthen its advocacy for STI funding and requested a specific strategy briefing on mitigating the loss of international research funding.