research and studies

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 Innovation for Development (INNO4DEV) subcommittee of National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) has decided to engage with South African university CityLabs and other organizations such as Meraka Institute, Wits Rural Facility (WRF), Deloitte and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) (see ADDENDA B-E) that are closely linked with grassroots communities through the local and national government as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The engagement was intended to:

1. Understand how the organizations were working with grassroots communities through the application of technological and non-technological innovations.
2. Identify gaps that may warrant urgent attention regarding the expansion of the functions of these organizations in order to maximise their impact.

During the course of 2008/2009, NACI commissioned the development of a directory of indicators together with a directory of the associated data sources which provided information on the availability of indicator time series. The focus was on South African based data sets and international data sets that could be valuable for South African policy makers, strategists, business leaders and academics.

1. Innovation System Indicators – Directory of Indicators
2. Innovation System Indicators – Directory of Databases

The objectives of the study were to:

• Identify existing government poverty alleviation programmes and policies with a special focus on the DST’s STSI programme and then evaluate the effectiveness of the programme in terms of successes and challenges, as well as reasons thereof;
• Identify linkages and institutional arrangements between DST and other government departments.
• Formulate high level recommendations aimed at coordinating poverty alleviation programmes and enhancing their social impact