News & Events

The National Research Foundation (NRF), in collaboration with Rhodes University, invites members of the media to the official release of Cyrtobagous salviniae, a weevil species designated for the biological control of an invasive alien aquatic plant which poses a significant

March is women’s history month. This month is a vital opportunity to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women across all sectors of society, past and present. It serves as a reminder of the progress made towards gender equality

From 24-26 February, the National Research Foundation (NRF) participated in the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) meetings, held at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. These strategic engagements brought together global and regional stakeholders to advance

The South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), a long-term environmental observation and research facility of the National Research, is participating in the Around Africa Expedition. Led by global ocean exploration non-profit organisations, OceanX and the newly established OceanQuest, Around Africa

As part of its ongoing oversight programme, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee (PPC) on Science, Technology and Innovation, in collaboration with the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), recently conducted site visits to the National Research Foundation’s South African Astronomical

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation has been instrumental in promoting research capacityand knowledge production in the Earth Observation (EO) sector through its participation in initiatives such asthe Group on Earth Observation (GEO), which led to the establishment of

On Monday, 24 February 2025, a high-level delegation from the NRF, led by Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive for Business Advancement and including Dr Rudzani Nemutudi, Deputy Director at NRF-iThemba LABS, kicked off a week-long learning visit to the Science

The Capacity-Building Workshop on Digital Technology Integration in Business and Trade for Women and Youth, takes place from 24 – 28 March 2025, in Pretoria. Organised by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation in collaboration with the Department of

The National Research Foundation participated in the 191st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), held from 13 to 15 February 2025 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The

On 11 February 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) provided a comprehensive briefing to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, focusing on the progress of astronomy in South Africa and its contribution to the National System of

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) aimed at deepening transformation in the country’s academic cohort. The Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP), aimed at supporting the development

The National Research Foundation is pleased to announce the newly formed International Science Council (ISC) South Africa National Governing Council. This distinguished group of leaders will play a key role in shaping the ISC’s scientific and strategic direction within South

Cape Town, South Africa and Vancouver, Canada – February 7, 2025 – The National Research Foundation’s iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (NRF-iThemba LABS), in collaboration with Vancouver-based isoSolutions, announced the successful submission of a Drug Master File (DMF) for

The National Research Foundation (NRF) and SASOL Foundation Trust have renewed an agreement that underpins their joint sponsorship and support for South Africa’s next generation of science researchers. Initiated in 2011, the agreement led to the formation of the NRF-Sasol

We are pleased to introduce Dr Ndivhuwo Luruli, our newly appointed Chief Strategist in the Office of the CEO. Prior to joining the National Research Foundation, Dr Luruli was the Executive Director of Research Development and Support at the University

The Peer-Learning for Emerging Researchers’ Knowledge and Advancement (PERKA-2) project meeting took place from 04-05 February 2025 at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria, South Africa. The two-day event was a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen

The National Research Foundation (NRF) acknowledges with concern the implications of the recent funding cuts and/or halts by the United States on global scientific collaborations, including partnerships that support research, capacity building, and innovation in South Africa and across the

The National Research Foundation (NRF), in collaboration with Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), is pleased to announce the upcoming call for proposals for the DSTI-NRF’s Research Accelerator Fund for Space

Dr Rosalind Skelton has been appointed the new Managing Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO). She has held the position of Acting Managing Director of the facility since 2024, following the resignation of its previous MD, Professor Petri

31 January 2025 marked a significant milestone in South Africa’s exoplanet discovery capabilities and astronomical research. This follows the official launch of the PRIME (PRime-focus Infrared Microlensing Experiment (PRIME) Telescope by the NRF-South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) at its world-renowned

In an effort to boost the country’s exoplanet discovery and time-domain astronomy capabilities, the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF) which operates under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), will launch

The high-energy physics community gathered at NRF-iThemba LABS in Cape Town from 20 – 21 January 2025 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the South Africa-European Organisation for Nuclear Research (SA-CERN) Programme. Funded jointly by the Department of Science, Technology

December 2024 marked 15 years since the launch of the South Africa-European Organisation for Nuclear Research (SA-CERN), a programme that has contributed immensely to the growth of the physics community in South Africa. To mark this remarkable international partnership, the

The National Research Foundation (NRF), hosted a session titled, “Integrating Academic Research into Energy Policy – Insights from the Sasol-NRF Research Programmes” during the 2024 Science Forum South Africa. The session brought together a dynamic combination of representatives from diverse

International Open Access Week is an annual event focused on Open Access issues and an opportunity to reflect on current progress, strengthen current processes, and to plan strategies for the future. UNESCO, along with its partners, takes this opportunity to

The iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (NRF-iThemba LABS) has officially become the 12th institution in the world to host an Information Centre of the Russian Federation’s Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). The JINR Information Centre, stationed at NRF-iThemba

On the sidelines of the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA), the Québec Research Fund (FRQ) and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) signed a joint declaration of intent to promote research collaborations. The signing, held on 05 December

Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive: Business Advancement of the National Research Foundation (NRF), has applauded Science Forum South Africa for what she termed “raising the bar.” Dr Mgwebi joined a four-member panel at the closing ceremony of this year’s biggest

In one of the most engaging sessions at this year’s Science Forum South Africa, four emerging scholars reflected on how their association with the National Research Facilities, which are overseen by the National Research Foundation (NRF), helped advance their careers

On 04 December 2024, the DSTI-NRF Postdoctoral Policy Fellows participated in a training workshop entitled Dissemination and Engagement Planning for Policy Briefs. This interactive session forms part of the HSRC-NRF joint programming in the second phase of the policy writing

Over the past few decades, the NRF has established and developed long-standing bilateral partnerships with global partners, through which international collaborations have been enhanced. Since the advent of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI), the NRF, with

The International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) offers diverse opportunities, such as theYSSP, to students from member organisation countries. Through the YSSP, Doctoral students undertakingresearch projects using systems analysis methodology will have the opportunity to advance their researchunder the

The National Research Foundation (NRF), through its Business Advancement division, hosted a successful Partnerships Breakfast on 03 December 2024 at its main campus in Pretoria, ahead of the 2024 Science Forum South Africa. Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive of Business

This session invites a reexamination of Open Science principles through the lens of initiatives that seek to advance the decolonization of knowledge systems and affirm Indigenous information governance and self-determination. Experts will discuss these initiatives, with a focus on the

At the UN Financing for Development Summit (FfD4) session, hosted under the auspices of the 2024 Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) on 02 December 2024, Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive for Business Advancement at the National Research Foundation (NRF) of

The National Research Foundation, in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP), successfully hosted the first HFSP Master Class from 27 to 29 November 2024. The class was a hands-on workshop

The National Research Foundation will host a Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) session on Thursday 5 December, 11:00-12:30 at the CSIR ICC’s Ruby Auditorium, titled ‘Integrating Academic Research into Policy – Insights from the Sasol-NRF Research Programmes’. The session will

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have officially launched the Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing South Africa’s environmental monitoring capabilities. The launch, which

The NRF, represented by the Acting DCEO for Research, Innovation and Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA), Dr Gugu Moche, and the Senior Manager for International Grants and Partnerships, Dr Prudence Makhura, participated at the 2024 High-Level Workshop on Strengthening European

Since 2021, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa has hosted an academic symposium that brings together researchers who have been funded to conduct research focused on national priorities. The symposium provides an opportunity to continue building the

The partnership between the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and NRF has been a cornerstone of success in Africa’s research and innovation partnerships. Over the years, this collaboration has driven joint research funding calls and cooperation in the

Wednesday, 13 November 2024, marked a momentous occasion as the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 2024

The O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) is an exciting example of how the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) has leveraged its partnerships through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a homegrown funding