Introduction 1
I N T R O D U C T I O N
1.3 Public research institu- contract activities. The most recent Natio-
tions, including the science nal R&D Survey (2006/7) shows that science
councils, government-based councils accounted for 17.3% of total na-
units, and national research tional expenditure on R&D and employed
facilities
23% of the total full-time equivalent (FTE)
R&D workforce.
Key national research resources:
Each PRI is mandated by an act of parlia-
public entities
ment to undertake R&D for the benefit of
the country. Many of the extensive research
T
here are currently 12 major public
activities of these organisations will be
research institutions (PRIs), which are
described in the chapters of this book.
exclusively R&D performing institu-
tions. (The exception is the MRC, which also
Government research
has an agency function.) Space precludes
A second category of R&D bodies comprises
mentioning here more than simply the
several relatively modest public R&D enter-
existence of these important and produc-
prises that have been established by gov-
tive organisations: many of the extensive
ernment departments to serve functions
research activities of these organisations
integral to their core functions, including
will be described in the chapters of this
the National Health Laboratory Service (ad-
book.
ministered by the Department of Health)
and the Water Research Commission (a
The first and largest PRI, the CSIR, was es- funding agency reporting to the Depart-
tablished in 1945, although the model dates ment of Water Affairs).
back to the mid-1930s in certain other Com-
monwealth countries. The other PRIs are These units are mostly governed and fun-
the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the ded by the relevant department and man-
HSRC, Mintek (for minerals processing re- aged by specially appointed staff. Their R&D
search), the MRC, the South African Bureau outputs are intended primarily for utilisa-
of Standards (SABS), South African Weather tion by the line department and only sec-
Services, the Council for Geoscience, the ondarily for the general public.
South African National Energy Research In-
stitute (SANERI), the South African National ‘Big science’ in South Africa – the national
Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Marine research facilities
and Coastal Management division (a divi- A limited number of unique national re-
sion of the Department of Environmental search facilities are managed by the NRF on
Affairs) and the Africa Institute of South Af- behalf of the DST. They are grouped by field
rica (AISA). In principle, the funding of the into several categories:
PRIs consists of a parliamentary component
Astro/Space/Geo Sciences:
(on average 50% of the total budget of the - South African Astronomical Observatory
institution) and income generated through (SAAO)
49
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