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

The National Research Foundation (NRF) invites members of the media to attend the groundbreaking launch of a total of forty-one (41) new Research Chairs as part of efforts to expand research capacity across South Africa’s higher education sector.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande, will preside over the event and deliver a keynote address.

Event Details:

Date: 16 April 2025
Starting time: 14:00
Venue and address: NRF Building, South Gate, CSIR Complex, Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria

The event will also be livestreamed on the NRF YouTube account.

 This landmark intervention forms part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) and is aimed at expanding the footprint of Research Chairs at Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs), Universities of Technology (UoTs), and emerging universities. 

Established in 2006 by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the NRF, the 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 fifteen 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). The SARChI has been successful in retaining and attracting excellent researchers in the country’s research community, thereby accelerating the development of high-end skills training and quality scientific publications. 

While the initiative has achieved notable success, the distribution of Research Chairs has historically been concentrated in the country’s previously advantaged traditional universities. To address this, the NRF will announce the increase in the number of Research Chairs hosted at HDIs, UoTs, and emerging institutions. This new cohort of 41 chairs represents a deliberate and strategic shift to build equitable research capacity, enhance excellence, and broaden impact across the country’s public universities. The intervention is aligned with the objectives of the DSTI Decadal Plan 2022—2032.

The NRF Acting CEO, Dr Angus Paterson will be among the speakers. The new Research Chairs will be in attendance and available for sideline interviews.