News & Events

In a significant step toward strengthening global ocean research and cooperation, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and OceanQuest, a newly launched philanthropic organisation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a high-level event in Nice, France on 10 June 2025.

The recently appointed Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Professor Robert Balfour, led a delegation to the National Research Foundation (NRF) on 09 June 2025 for a high-level engagement aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and

The Managing Director of the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), Dr Mary-Jane Bopape and her research collaborators have journal-published a groundbreaking research paper that analyses weather-related disasters in South Africa from 1980 to 2023. This comprehensive study utilises data

The National Research Foundation (NRF), as the Secretariat of Future Earth Africa Hub, together with the Future Earth Africa Leadership Centre, convened the second Future Earth Africa Hub General Assembly on 2-3 June 2025 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

On 03 June 2025, Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia, Managing Director of NRF-SAASTA, delivered a keynote address at a roundtable discussion hosted by the National Press Club at the CSIR International Convention Centre. Held under the theme Navigating the Future of Journalism:

The South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) proudly hosted a two-day outreach workshop held at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Lowveld Botanical Gardens in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, from 26-27 May 2025. Themed Connecting Inland Communities to the Ocean, the

The Ocean20 Inception Meeting, held in hybrid format on 28 May 2025 at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, was a milestone event that brought together national and international stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Under

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, in partnership with the Future Earth Africa Hub and its Leadership Centre, the Future Earth East Africa Node at Maseno University; the National Research Fund of Kenya; and the University of Nairobi;

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has taken a major step forward in the implementation of the Presidential PhD Programme with the launch of an Expression of Interest (EoI) call to the country’s universities and other research entities interested in hosting

The National Research Foundation (NRF) and Mintek have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that marks a significant step toward fostering innovation, scientific excellence, and sustainable progress in South Africa’s mining industry. The signing of the MoU signals the

The National Research Foundation (NRF) actively took part in the second G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) Meeting, hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in partnership with the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) at UMP’s Mbombela

The NRF participated in the 13th Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC), held from 18–22 May 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting brought together science funders from across the world to exchange knowledge, reflect on emerging challenges,

The NRF has officially endorsed two Statements of Principles (SoPs) at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC): Research Management in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Co-Creation for Addressing Global Challenges. These international frameworks set the

The NRF and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and expand their scientific partnership. The signing took place during the 13th Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) held a high-level bilateral meeting during the 13th Global Research Council (GRC) Annual Meeting, which runs from 18 to 22 May 2025 and is hosted by

South Africa successfully hosted the 2025 International Continental Drilling Program’s (ICDP) Executive Committee and Assembly of Governors meeting in Johannesburg from 05-10 May 2025. This significant event marked the first time the meetings were held in Africa, and highlighted South

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), in partnership with the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) are organizing the 6th National Global Change Conference. The conference will be held at the UMP on 1-4

On May 13, 2025, the Anton Lembede Mathematics, Sciences and Technology (MST) Academy in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, proudly hosted a ministerial visit by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande. The event was marked by

The Globelics International Conference 2025 is set to take place from 24 to 26 November 2025 at the National Research Foundation in Pretoria, South Africa. Under the theme, “Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development to Build Resilience for Global Challenges,”

On Monday, 05 May 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) hosted a high-level National Colloquium on the soon-to-be-launched Presidential PhD Programme. The event brought together key stakeholders from Government, academia, research, and industry for a rich dialogue on collaborative PhD

Annually during Youth Month, NRF invites profile submissions to celebrate young researchers who have a current or past affiliation with the NRF and its Business Units (NRF-SAAO, NRF-iThemba LABS, NRF-SAIAB, NRF-SAEON, NRF-SARAO and NRF-SAASTA), Centres of Excellence (CoEs), or South

In April 2025, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa marked a significant milestone—ten years since its inception. Over the past decade, the SGCI has worked in close partnership with national public research funders, known as science granting

In a significant advancement for international higher education collaboration, the National Research Foundation (NRF) was honoured to participate in the inaugural Hungary–South Africa Rectors’ Forum, held in Budapest from 01 to 03 April 2025, at the invitation of Universities South

From 08 to 10 April 2025, under the auspices of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI), the NRF and German Research Foundation (DFG) co-hosted a peer learning visit in Bonn, Germany. This peer learning visit brought together

On 09 April 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) hosted another impactful edition of its Science for Society Lecture Series at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), this time spotlighting the future of nanotechnology in medicine, or nanomedicine. Prof Lynn

The inaugural trans-disciplinary meeting between South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) and the United Kingdom’s Research on Research Institute (RoRI), held from 24 to 25 March 2025 at the NRF headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa, served as a platform for

The National Research Foundation (NRF) extends an invitation to members of the media to attend the NRF Science for Society Lecture on the Future of Nanotechnology. It will be delivered by Professor Yahya Choonara, the DSTI-NRF SARChI Chair in Pharmaceutical

We are excited to announce and share the newly published special issue on IIASA and Systems Analysis in Africa in Elsevier’s Environmental Development Journal. In 2022, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) increased its membership footprint through its

As International Women’s History Month 2025 concludes, we reflect on the growing visibility and influence of gender and diversity considerations in science. While challenges persist, significant strides have been made in advancing gender equity across the research landscape. For nearly

Cape Town- The 14th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (ICSHMO) officially opened this morning at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and will run until 04 April 2025. The conference is hosted by the National Research

On March 24, 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) hosted a heartfelt farewell gathering to honour Ron Grace, former Head of Supply Chain (SC), as he concluded his distinguished almost 20-year tenure with the organisation. Colleagues from various functions came

Two South African emerging researchers funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) attended the 16th Japan HOPE Meeting held as a physical event in Yokohama, Japan from 09 to 13 March 2025. Hosted annually by the Japanese Society for the

To mark World Water Day 2025, Professor Philiswa Nomngongo, DSTI-NRF SARChI Chair in Nanotechnology for Water, highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to water access in South Africa. She highlights that while water shortages in urban areas like

The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), a research facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF), plays an important role in the conservation of the country’s biodiversity. In an effort to combat the growing threat of the invasive alien

The National Research Foundation (NRF) cordially invites members of the media to the 14th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (ICSHMO), which will take place from 31 March to 04 April 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The 19th Africa Young Graduate Scholars (AYGS) Conference, held from 04 – 06 March 2025 at the University of Mpumalanga, served as a key platform for emerging scholars to engage with academics and policymakers, with the aim to contribute to

INVITATION Discover how nanomedicine is breaking barriers in healthcare by addressing challenges like infectious diseases, cancer, and neurological conditions. This lecture will highlight groundbreaking innovations in advanced drug delivery systems and will particularly explore the role of nanotechnology in the