NRF and RoRI Transform Research Systems Through Partnerships and Cooperation

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 exchange of ideas on mechanisms to advance the transformation of research systems; share research management best practices; and deepen research collaboration.

The event, themed Transforming Research Systems through Partnerships & Cooperation, was headlined by executives and senior managers from both the NRF and RoRI and brought together 45 researchers, funding professionals, public and private sector partners from eight organizations, across four countries. These organisations included the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF); the University of Pretoria; University of Stellenbosch; Nobangule Business Engineering Services; the University of Sheffield; University College London; Denmark’s Aarhus University; and Leiden University, Netherlands.

Key discussions focused on the advancement of research system transformation; sharing of best practices in research management; and the deepening of collaboration. The meeting highlighted metascience projects that strengthen learning and build synergies for potential collaborative projects. Says the NRF’s Dr Gugu Moche, Group Executive: Digital Transformation and Acting Deputy CEO: RIISA, “In this part of our world, the NRF is the biggest funder of research. Therefore, it is important that when we engage with our partners, we contribute with transcendent thought leadership to global initiatives that evolve our current national science system to honour our mandate and deliver on our national imperatives,”

The NRF and RoRI partnership, co-led by the NRF’s Dr Thandi Mgwebi and Dr Gugu Moche, and Professor James Wilsdon from RoRI, was established in July 2024 with the aim to enhance funding mechanisms, promote responsible research evaluation, and build metascience capacity in South Africa. This collaboration allows the NRF to contribute to global dialogues on the transformation of research systems by adding an African perspective to the discussions.

Executives and senior managers from both organisations emphasised the importance of these initiatives in the advancement of research quality and impact. Says Prof James Wilsdon, RoRI Executive Director and Professor of Research Policy at University College London, “The UK is the first country to have created a metascience unit inside central government, working jointly with UK Research and Innovation, our public funding agency. This is just one example of many around the world of policymakers, funders and metascientists joining forces to build capacity and strengthen the evidence base for research policy and funding. Among funding agencies in Africa, the NRF is at the crest of this wave, and RoRI is excited to be collaborating with them and others to support and strengthen metascience in South Africa.”