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wpadmin NRF in the News May 11, 2026 The Norway–South Africa Research Funding Opportunity Conference will take place at the National Research Foundation in Pretoria from 04 to 05 June 2026. It will showcase progress and insights from 10 joint projects funded by the NRF and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) to address critical global challenges such as urban development, biodiversity loss, renewable energy planning, marine and fisheries management, global wine value chains, and increasing forest fires. Conference Objectives Reflection: To review achievements, challenges, and lessons learned across all ten projects. Integration of knowledge: To identify cross-cutting themes emerging from diverse research streams, particularly in ecosystem management and sustainable development. Strengthening collaboration: To enhance linkages between South African and Norwegian researchers, as well as between academic and non-academic stakeholders. Advancing equity and transformation: To ensure that projects are effectively contributing to human capacity development, including the meaningful participation of emerging researchers, women, and persons with disabilities. Preparation for final engagement: To ensure alignment and readiness for the final conference, including synthesis of results and articulation of impact pathways. Stakeholders The conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and non-academic partners from South Africa and Norway to strengthen bilateral collaboration on climate and biodiversity research. It will include stakeholders from the DSTI; the Royal Norwegian Embassy; PhD students and postdoctoral Fellows involved in the projects; researchers from participating academic institutions; non-academic research partners including private sector companies and industries; and NGOs. Focus Areas Six focus areas will form the foundation of the conference: Effective co-existence between different societal considerations, interests, and business activities Sustainable use of natural resources Reduced consumption of natural resources in a circular economy Societal security, emergency preparedness and prevention, security of supply Social and cultural dimensions of sustainable and holistic land use and management Sustainable use and management of cultural environments in the face of spatial challenges The 10 jointly funded projects are: Project Title Norwegian Institution South African Institution JustUrban: Sustaining urban nature for environmental justice in the face of urban growth Stiftelsen Norsk Institutt For Naturforskning Nina University of the Western Cape and Rhodes University NatuRA: Sustainable use of natural resources in Alpine and mountain grassland ecosystems under global change Universitetet I Bergen University of the Free State and University of Venda Human-environment-animal relations in deep time Institutt For Kultur- Og Språkvitenskap, Universitetet I Stavanger Stellenbosch University and University of Fort Hare Land governance and responsible value chains in the South African wine industry (WINELAND) Institutt For Fredsforskning (Prio) University of the Western Cape Planning renewable solar energy systems combining technological and ecological assessments Sintef Energi AS University of Stellenbosch and University of Limpopo Co-creating nature recovery maps to guide conservation and restoration efforts in Norway and South Africa. Institutt For Naturforskning Nina Witwatersrand and University of the Western Cape Wildfire safety of homes and other vulnerable establishments in the wildland-urban interface Rise Fire Research AS University of Stellenbosch and Sol Plaatje University Sustainable multiuse of ocean areas in South Africa and Norway—interactions with fisheries and aquaculture of low trophic resources Møreforsking AS Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and University of the Western Cape Pressures of urbanisation on fish and fisheries In Norway and South Africa (PUFFINS) Norce Miljø/Klima Vestland South African National Biodiversity Institute and University of Zululand Turning wastewater into potable water—sustainable plant-based water treatment systems for rural communities Sintef AS University of KwaZulu Natal and University of Venda The initiative aims to advance scientific knowledge and practical solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. Date: 04–05 June 2026 Time: 08:30–17:00 Venue: NRF BuildingSouth Gate, CSIR ComplexMeiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria RSVP: By 22 May 2026CLICK HERE To register for the conference. Share on Facebook Share on X
