Policy context

The 2011 National Development Plan (NDP) highlights the centrality of science, technology and innovation (STI) in national development. The NDP notes that developments in STI fundamentally alter the way people live, communicate and transact, with profound effects on economic growth and development. The NDP further indicates that countries that are able to tackle poverty effectively by growing their economies are characterised by strong STI. This implies that the STI is fundamental to equitable economic growth, which underpins economic advances and improvements in health systems, education and infrastructure.

Furthermore, the NDP acknowledges that the STI system or the national system of innovation (NSI) has a role to play in improving South Africa’s global competitiveness. In particular, the NSI is the principle tool for creating new knowledge, applying knowledge in production processes, and disseminating knowledge through teaching and research collaboration. The NDP further acknowledges that advances in technological innovation and the production of new knowledge are critical to growth and development. Therefore, achieving a competitive and sustainable economy will require a strong and effective NSI, which must contribute to transformation. For these benefits to be realised, the NDP emphasises that the NSI should function in a coherent and coordinated manner with broad common objectives aligned to national priorities.

NACI has begun to identify ways in which its work could contribute to the realisation of some aspects of the NDP. As part of a programme of action, NACI identified the water-energy-food security nexus as a focus that responds to the NDP both directly and indirectly. Projects (involving NSI actors) have already started and produced results, some of which have been provided to the Minister in the form of special advice letters. NACI intends to continue focusing on the water-energy-food security nexus. NACI has adopted a new vision and goals that are intended to help contribute to the development of an NSI that is coherent, coordinated and responsive to national priorities, another expectation of the NDP.