NRF Hosts Chinese Science and Technology Delegation

On 25 August 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, led by Group Executive: Business Advancement, Dr Thandi Mgwebi, hosted a high-level delegation from China’s International Science and Technology Cooperation Center (ISTCC), led by Deputy Director-General Mr DENG Wei.

The primary objective of the visit was to enhance bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, with a particular focus on international programme management and the sharing of best practices between the NRF and ISTCC. Discussions explored opportunities for joint research, strategic alignment, and institutional collaboration to tackle shared global challenges.

As part of the programme, the ISTCC delegation visited the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on 26 August, where they engaged with senior academic leaders including Prof Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, and Prof Thokozani Majozi. The visit aimed to gain insight into ongoing research at Wits, meet academics already collaborating with Chinese institutions, and identify new avenues for partnership.

The ISTCC, operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China, plays a key role in the advancement of global scientific partnerships. Its portfolio includes managing international Big Science collaborations, overseeing China’s involvement in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and the facilitation of science and technology cooperation through project calls, reviews, and evaluations.

South Africa and China share a strong history of scientific cooperation dating back to 1998. This engagement reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people collaboration and institutional relationships in driving impactful research.

#ScienceDiplomacy #GlobalPartnerships #SouthAfricaChina #ResearchCollaboration