The feminine face of women in science is disturbingly hard to find, but we can change this!

The primary focus of the symposium will be on policy issues that require cooperation between NACI and stakeholders, experts and policy makers. The symposium will be addressing two themes, Women as managers in science, technology and innovation; and Women as leaders of scientific output. Each theme will be covered in the plenary session and breakaway sessions, with the latter aimed at finding solutions.

Date: Friday, 13 August 2010
Time: 08:00 to 16:00
Place: Premier Hotel, Pretoria

The symposium will advance policy thinking and contribute to finding strategies for women to enter and excel in leadership positions in science, technology and innovation.

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"The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be." Paul Valery (1871-1945). Prof John Wood, Chair of the European Research Area Board, used this quotation during a NACI dinner presentation to highlight the fact that researchers have to be empowered to respond to a changing global research environment and to mounting global challenges. He shared six strategic approaches for European research to effectively respond to mounting challenges: global warming, scarce water, energy shortages, healthcare, etc. He also discussed the implications for doctoral training in the future.

"Feeding the Biotechnology Pipeline"

Date: Thursday 30 September 2010
Time: 09h00- 17h00
Place: To be Confirmed

National Biotechnology Advisory Committee (NBAC), a subcommittee of NACI, has identified a need to host a national workshop on “Feeding the biotechnology pipeline”, the main objective of which is to promote and sustain the generation of knowledge and production of innovation skills that are able to support biotechnology growth in South Africa. Feeding the biotechnology pipeline for a knowledge driven bio-economy requires taking into consideration a core innovation value chain of activities as depicted in the figure below.

The NACI Indicators Reference Group launches the South African Science and Technology Indicators 2009 at the Department of Science and Technology Auditorium on 29th April 2010 from 13:00 to 14:00.

The South African Science and Technology Indicators 2009, an update of the 2008 report, provides an overall picture of South Africa’s national system of innovation by presenting statistical data relating to trends and performance. Science and technology indicators are essential tools used by countries for monitoring and evaluating the performance of their national innovation systems. South Africa is no exception. When such indicators are founded on common international practice, they can also be used to analyse our progress (or lack of progress) and position relative to other countries

The Indicators Reference Group (IRG) is a permanent national advisory committee of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) created with the principal objective of advising NACI and the Minister of Science and Technology on the development and effective operation of a comprehensive science, technology and innovation indicator system.

With support from the Developmental Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Innovation for Development (INNO4DEV) subcommittee of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) hosted a workshop on Friday 29 January 2010 at the DBSA. The purpose of the workshop was to enable various organisations such as mining, chemical, financial, information and communication technology (ICT) and other relevant industries to come and share their real experiences of working with and improving lives of the grassroots communities through application of technological and non-technological innovations.

The objectives of the workshop were to identify:

• Real examples of successes made through application of technological and non-technological innovations with potential for roll-out.
• Challenges to innovations and strategies applied or planned to address those challenges.