NRF Profile
The NRF Act | Mission | Board Members | Corporate Structure | Printable Profile | Business Plan | Contacts
The objective of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is to support and promote research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of the natural and social sciences, humanities and technology. In so doing, it contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of all the people of the country. The organisation was established in 1999 as a result of The NRF Act.
As the government's national agency responsible for promoting and supporting basic and applied research as well as innovation, the NRF upholds excellence in its investments in knowledge, people, products and infrastructure. The NRF provides services and grants to support research and postgraduate research training, vital to the development of South Africa. It is the NRF's vision to be a key instrument in the creation of an innovative, knowledge-driven society where all citizens are empowered to contribute to a globally competitive and prosperous country.
Funding from the NRF is largely directed towards academic research, developing high-level human resources, and supporting the nation's national research facilities. The NRF's task is to advance research in all fields of the humanities, social and natural sciences, engineering, and technology; including indigenous knowledge. By forging strategic partnerships locally and internationally, it extends the resources that researchers need to foster and expand South Africa's research capabilities and, ultimately, to improve the quality of life for all.
Other areas of its core business are to promote research capacity development (RCD), to unlock the full creative potential of the research community and to establish equity and redress. The NRF fosters strategic partnerships and knowledge networks to make South Africa globally relevant and competitive. It provides research information and strategic advice.
The NRF's activities are currently clustered as follows:
Research and Innovation Support and Advancement
- parliamentary core grant funding
- Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme
- the Innovation Fund
Astro/Space/Geo Sciences
- South African Astronomical Observatory
- SALT Foundation (Pty) Ltd
- Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
- Hermanus Magnetic Observatory
Biodiversity/Conservation
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
- South African Environmental Observatory Network
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Nuclear Sciences
- iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences
Advancing Science
- South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement
Download the profile of the NRF in Acrobat PDF
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A dynamic, quality-driven organisation that provides leadership in the promotion and support of research and research capacity development in the natural, social and human sciences, engineering and technology to meet national and global challenges through:
- Investing in knowledge, people and infrastructure;
- Promoting basic and applied research and innovation;
- Developing research capacity and advancing equity and redress to unlock the
full creative potential of the research community;
- Facilitating strategic partnerships and knowledge networks; and
- Upholding research excellence.
The Research and Innovation Support and Advancement realises this mission through the creativity and commitment of its people and
partners. Please visit the news page on this website for the latest updates about the organisation.
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This is the latest NRF Business Plan. Download a copy of the document in Acrobat PDF format:
NRF Business Plan
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The NRF Act is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Because the PDF file is fairly large in size, it is suggested that you download the file to your local computer and then view the report using Adobe Acrobat. To do this, right click the link below and select either "Save Target As" for MS Internet Explorer, or "Save Link As" for Netscape browsers. To read it directly just click on the link. Download the Act now.
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The Minister of Science and Technology has appointed the following persons to the Board of the NRF for a three-year period, as of 1 July 2008:
- Professor B Bozzoli (Chairperson)
- Professor T Nyokong
- Mr TS Gcabashe
- Dr NM Magau
- Professor JW Fedderke
- Dr IR May
- Mr TM Netsianda
- Professor P Pillay
- Professor V Pillay
- Ms NZ Yokwana
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President and CEO - Dr. Albert S. van Jaarsveld
Vice-President and Managing Director: Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA) - Dr. Albert S. Van Jaarsveld (Acting)
Vice-President: Research Infrastructure and National Research Facilities - Dr. Gatsha Mazithulela
Group Executive: Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations - Mr. Patrick Thompson
Executive Director: Finance and Business Systems and CFO - Mr. Bishen Singh
Executive Director: Knowledge Management and Evaluation - Dr. Daisy Selematsela
Executive Director: Governance – Dr. Robin Drennan (Seconded)
Executive Director: Knowledge Fields Development - Dr. Andrew Kaniki
Executive Director: New Business Development - Dr. Rocky Skeef
Executive Director: Institutional Capacity Development - Dr. Romilla Maharaj
Executive Director: Grant Management and Systems Administration - Dr. Bernard Nthambeleni (Acting)
Executive Director: International Relations - Mr. Robert Kriger
Executive Director: Applied Research and Innovation – Dr Tally Palmer
Executive Director: Information and Communications Technologies – Mr Wojtek Skowronski
Executive Directors: Innovation Fund - Mr. Duncan Raftesath & Mr.McLean Sibanda (Acting)
South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement
Executive Director: Mrs Beverley Damonse
National Research Facilities
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
Managing Director - Professor Roy Booth
Hermanus Magnetic Observatory
Managing Director - Dr Sandile B Malinga
iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences
Managing Director - Dr Zeblon Vilakazi
South African Astronomical Observatory
Managing Director - Professor Phil Charles
South African Environmental Observation Network
Head - Mr Johan Pauw
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Managing Director - Professor Paul Skelton
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Executive Director - Dr Clifford Nxomani
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Download a NRF brochure: Acrobat PDF (710 KB)
