Opening of 7th Framework Programme in Latvia

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

European – South AfricanScience and Technology

Advancement Programme(ESASTAP)

Cristina PintoLegal and Financial NCP: South Africa

cristina.pinto@wits.ac.za5th February 2007

Overview of Presentation

• Overview of South Africa’s research environment

• Research capacity in South Africa• South Africa’s participation in the

Framework Programmes• ESASTAP• International Cooperation in FP7

Overview of South Africa’s Research Environment

Future R&D Capacity

Technical progress

(Improvement and

Innovation)

SET Human Capital

Business Performance

Current R&D Capacity

Wealth Creation

Imported Know-how

Quality of Life

Research and Development Strategy Framework

Strategic Science and Technology Landscape

Economic GrowthPoverty

reductionQuality of Life

Nanotechnology Strategy

Vision 2014

Leveraging Resource

Based Industries

Information & Communications Technology

Strategy

Poverty Reduction

Advanced Manufacturi

ng Technology

Strategy

Biotechnology Strategy

National R&D

Strategy

White Paper on Science

and Technology

Technology Transfer Strategy

Human Capital Development

Strategy

InternationalPartners

Government

ScienceCouncils

EducationInstitutions

NGO’s

Business

StateCorporations

ResearchInstitutions

Social

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

Economic

Actors and Stakeholders

R&D Investment

Challenges within the National System of Innovation

• Insufficient investment in R&D• Strategic risks faced by the region• Inadequate renewal and growth of SET

human resources• Lack of overall coherence of innovation

system

Drivers for Internationalisation

• Augment small NSI by facilitating a net inflow of scientific knowledge into South Africa

• Enhance quality of R&D by participating in multilateral competitive research programmes

• Access international resources to implement national / regional S&T imperatives

Importance of S&T Cooperation with Europe

• Strategic and historical linkages• Science & Technology Cooperation

Agreement with the European Union• Several bilateral S&T Cooperation

Agreements with EU member states• Strong policy dialogue• Links to regional cooperation agreements

such as NEPAD Science & Technology Action Plan; ACP programme for S&T capacity development

Research Capacity in South Africa

Research Institutions

• Universities• Research Councils• Private and Public Sectors

– Industry, SMEs, NGOs

– Government (national, provincial, local)

Universities

• University of Cape Town• University of the Free State• University of KwaZulu-Natal• Nelson Mandela

Metropolitan University• University of Pretoria

• Rhodes University• Stellenbosch University• Tshwane University• University of the Western

Cape• University of the

Witwatersrand

Examples of universities with international experience:

Research Councils

• ARC (Agricultural Research Council)• CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial

Research)• HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council)• MRC (Medical Research Council)• NRF (National Research Foundation)• Mintek• SABS (South African Bureau of Standards)• Water Research Commission

Private and Public Sectors

• Limited R&D capacity in some areas such as food

• Primarily support of development work, little basic research

• Seeking to becoming more international • SMEs – limited research capacity• NGOs – key role at community level• Government departments

South Africa’s Participation in the Framework Programmes

History of South Africa’s Framework Programme Participation

• FP4: 34 INCO-DC

SA participated in 38 projects 4 Thematic

Science councils and universities

• FP5: 53 INCO-DEV

SA participated in 64 projects 11 Thematic

First Technikon / SME participation

• SA is involved in >60 projects (c20% hit rate)

• The leading fields are environment (c30%),

health (c15%), food (c13%) and IST (c10%)

• The pattern has changed: c60% of projects are

in Thematics

• SA was the second most successful country in

the FP6 “top-up” calls

South Africa’s Participation in FP6

South Africa in FP6

• TP1: HIV/AIDS vaccine; Microbicides• TP2: Open source software; e-Health• TP3: Bioleaching; Advanced Manufacturing• TP4: Global Navigation Satellite Systems• TP5: Food risk analysis; Food processing waste• TP6: Water resource management; Climate

Change• TP7: “New” history research agenda• Infrastructures: SKA Design Studies• Policy: Impact of avian influenza on poultry

sector

European – South African Science and Technology Programme

(ESASTAP)

What is ESASTAP?

• “Specific Support Action” implemented byDepartment of Science and Technology under the FP6

• Dedicated platform to promote SA-EU S&T cooperation, especially SA participation in Framework Programmes, bringing together existing efforts from:– DST and EC– FP6/7 National Contact Points– SA Senior S&T Representative in Brussels

Challenges for ESASTAP

• Insufficient awareness of opportunities – both within SA and the EU– Need to broaden range of SA participants

• Instruments for international cooperation in FP6/7 not well understood – need to improve understanding both SA and EU– More proactive engagement with opportunities

• Difficulties for SA researchers to find European FP consortia partners – Lack of awareness of SA S&T excellence

Opportunities for ESASTAP

• Progressively greater opportunities for

international cooperation in FPs• Strong political commitment to SA-EU S&T

cooperation– Convergence of SA and EU S&T policy priorities

• SA’s historical S&T relations with Europe and existing strong bilateral relations– SA’s existing knowledge base and experience of

successful FP participation

ESASTAP Priorities

• Create dedicated programme and brandingfor SA-EU S&T cooperation

• Supporting SA’s FP6 participation and FP7 preparation– Awareness-raising and strategic advice and assistance

• Marketing SA’s S&T excellence in Europe– “South Africa a preferred international partner for

Framework Programme cooperation”

• Exploit synergies between FP6/7 participation with other international cooperation activities– Especially bilateral links with European countries– Other European programmes e.g. COST, EUREKA,

EDCTP

International Cooperation

in FP7

Opening of All Activities to Third Countries

Definitions

• “Third country”– is a country which is not a European Union Member State

• “International Cooperation Partner Country”– is a third country that the European Commission

classifies as a low-income, lower-middle-income or upper-middle-income country and which is identified as such in the workprogramme

– SOUTH AFRICA belongs to the ICPC group - will receive funding under the Framework Programme

– Emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, SOUTH AFRICA)

South Africa, ESASTAP and FP7

• Point of departure: South Africa’s National R&D Strategy and other policy documents

• FP7 one of range of instruments for international cooperation – need to understand its relevance

• Strategic analysis by SA participating organisation of FP7 opportunities

• National Co-Investment and Seed Funding Instruments

South Africa, ESASTAP and FP7 (2)

• Preparing South African S&T community for FP7

• Improving networking and partnerships with Europe:– Deployment of Seed Funding to attend events

– Pro-active contact with leading FP6 coordinators

– Utilising bilateral relations with Member States

• Learning from South African FP6 experience

Thank you

www.ESASTAP.org.za