NRF Expands Research Chairs at the Country's Historically Disadvantaged Institutions

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has launched a total of forty-one (41) Decadal Plan Aligned Research Chairs for Historically Disadvantaged Institutions, Universities of Technology, and Emerging Universities. A landmark intervention that forms part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), the initiative was launched at a prestigious event at the NRF Building on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

The initiative aims to expand the footprint of the NRF’s Research Chairs at historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs), universities of technology (UoTs), and emerging universities with the unveiling of 41 newly appointed Research Chairs at the event.

The Chairs are spread across Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Central University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Nelson Mandela University, Rhodes University, Sol Plaatje University, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Fort Hare, University of Limpopo, University of South Africa, University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of Venda, University of Zululand and Walter Sisulu University.

The institutions also include those not formally classified as HDIs, but which hosted fewer than 14 Research Chairs under the NRF’s SARChI programme. The new Research Chairs were selected through a competitive application process following a call that closed on 14 February 2025.

Established in 2006 by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the NRF, SARChI was designed to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities through the establishment of Research Chairs with a long-term investment trajectory of up to 15 years.

With over 360 Research Chairs awarded to date, the initiative garnered significant success and contributed to the development of the National System of Innovation (NSI). SARChI has successfully retained and attracted excellent researchers in the country’s research community, thereby accelerating the development of high-end skills training and quality scientific publications. However, while it has achieved notable success, the distribution of Research Chairs has historically been concentrated in the country’s previously advantaged traditional universities. The NRF aims to address this through the Decadal Plan Aligned Research Chairs for Historically Disadvantaged Institutions,

Universities of Technology, and Emerging Universities. The intervention is aligned with the objectives of the DSTI Decadal Plan 2022—2032.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande, emphasised the transformative intent of the new Research Chairs. “By awarding 32 of these 41 chairs to Black researchers, we are not just changing who does research; we are also changing where that research is done and for whom,” he said.

“Furthermore, in establishing the Research Chairs, we have also recognised what we call a persistent “Innovation Paradox”: while we produce excellent research, we are also seeing a decline in patent registrations—from 36.3 per million people in 2022 to just 18.6 in 2023. Our system is excellent at generating knowledge, but we are still not necessarily commercialising at the desired scale. We therefore view the awarding of these 41 Research Chairs as part of our response to this paradox.”

Reflecting on the journey towards the Decadal Plan-aligned Research Chairs, the NRF Deputy CEO for Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA), Dr Gugu Moche, highlighted that while SARChI Chairs have historically been successful in building research capacity and attracting global talent, this alone is not sufficient. “Transformation and redress require sustained and intentional effort to be purposeful, inclusive and aligned to developmental goals,” she said.

Dr Moche added, “When we invest in HDIs, UoTs and Emerging Universities, we are not only addressing historical imbalances and disparities; we are unlocking new centres of excellence that are deeply connected to the communities they serve.”

NRF Board Member, Ms Funeka Khumalo, representing Chairperson, Prof Ari Sitas, said “The initiative reflected a deliberate and strategic intervention aimed at strengthening institutional research cultures, developing the next generation of scholars, and ensuring that knowledge production is aligned with national priorities and societal needs.”

“A vibrant and capable research enterprise cannot thrive without intentional inclusion, strong institutions, and sustained investment in people. While South Africa’s research system has achieved notable excellence, we must also confront the historical and structural imbalances that have limited the growth of research capacity across much of our higher education sector,” added Ms Khumalo.

Said NRF Acting CEO, Dr Angus Paterson, “This initiative lays a strong foundation for a more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic research system. It also affirms that transformation within the research enterprise is not incidental but is the result of conscious choices, long-term commitment, and aligned action across government, funding agencies, and institutions. It recognises that a truly capable and competitive research system cannot be built on narrow foundations but must be anchored across the full diversity of our higher education sector.”

Added Dr Paterson, “For decades, the architecture of our higher education and research system reflected deep structural inequalities shaped by an apartheid-designed landscape. While much progress has been made since the advent of democracy, we must also acknowledge that these historical imbalances have not been sufficiently addressed. They required, and continue to require, deliberate, intentional, and courageous leadership.”

The 41 new Research Chairs are named in the attached addendum and booklet.