1 the state of science in south africa
I N T R O D U C T I O N
- South African Large Telescope (SALT) how state expenditure since 1993 has been
- Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy
increasing exponentially in nominal terms
Observatory (HartRAO)
(from just above R2 billion in 1992/93 to
- Hermanus Magnetic Observatory
over R16 billion in 2006/7). The expendi-
ture in real terms has also increased sub-
Biodiversity/Conservation
stantially, although growth has been more
- South African Institute for Aquatic
gradual.
Biodiversity
- South African Environmental
Key indicators
Table 1.2 lists some of the key indicators of
Observatory Network (SAEON)
the current South African science system.
- National Zoological Gardens of
The expenditure in R&D over the past 15
South Africa
years has meant that Gross Expenditure on
R&D (GERD) in 2006/7 constituted 0.95% of
Nuclear Sciences
GDP. This means that the target of 1% as set
- iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator
in various policy documents of the DST is
Based Sciences
within sight. The biggest share of this (89%)
is civil R&D, another indication of the huge
Each of these facilities has staff, equipment decline in expenditure on military/ defence
and other resources designed to support R&D over the past two decades. The busi-
full-time research and capacity develop- ness sector now consistently spends the
ment at the highest possible levels in the most on R&D (approximately 56%), fol-
fields concerned; many of their projects lowed by higher education (about 20%)
and programmes will be described in the and the science councils (17%).
other chapters of this book.
Information on the scientific workforce in
1.4 Overall investment in sci- Table 1.2 reveals very little growth in the to-
ence tal number of researchers in terms of both
the total headcount or in FTEs. In fact the
R&D spending as a function of GDP total number of researchers per 1000 of
total employment has remained stable at
I
nvestment in science in the years imme- 1.5 for the past five years. An international
diately before and after 1994 had been comparison (Fig. 1.2 ) shows that South Af-
on the decline and this accordingly be- rica does not compare favourably with se-
came one of the main strategic priorities of lected countries as far as human resources
the new government. Figure 1.1 illustrates for S&T are concerned.
50
TWAS book_Chap1-6.indd 50 2009/10/06 12:03:43 PM
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