National Research Equipment Directory

Search the database by    Equipment type    Replacement value    Institution

This directory contains information related to research equipment available in South Africa. Research equipment in the higher education sector, science councils and government research establishments are included in the database. The directory aims to assist researchers to get access to equipment, research administrators and decision makers to make informed decisions related to procurement and promote cost effective utilisation of scarce resources at a national and regional level.

The criterion for inclusion is the availability of a piece of equipment used wholly or partially for research. A set of equipment items connected together and used as a working whole was recommended to be included as one piece of equipment. Free-standing computers were excluded, although computers dedicated to other instruments were included.

The equipment in the directory had to have a replacement value of above R100,000. This level was selected in order to make cost-feasible the collection of the data. It was decided not to impose a ceiling value on the equipment to be included in the study.

The directory provides information concerning:

• the identification and technical capabilities of the equipment;
• its various facets of utilisation;
• the means and sources of acquisition;
• its age and remaining useful life; and
• availability of the equipment to be utilised by external institutions.

The project is being supervised by Prof Anastassios Pouris of the Insititute of Technological Innovation of the University of Pretoria and is supported by the Ford Foundation.