NRF Hosts Swiss State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation

On 25 September 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) hosted a high-level Swiss delegation, led by Prof Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, to expand the strategic science and technology partnership between South Africa and Switzerland. The Swiss delegation also included the Swiss Ambassador and senior executives from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel.

In welcoming the delegation, NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo said, “South Africa and Switzerland have maintained a strong and enduring collaboration which was originally established by the bilateral agreement signed in December 2007. This agreement created the Swiss–South Africa Joint Research Programme (SSAJRP), jointly implemented by the NRF and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The SSAJRP remains the pillar of this partnership, driving collaborative research, innovation, and human capital development. Building on this foundation, we have, over the past decade, expanded new frontiers, funding a joint Swiss–South Africa Bilateral Research Chair in Global Environmental Health.”

Among other things, the parties discussed the need to expand collaborative projects, including joint research and innovation, research mobility, research infrastructure and support for the Presidential PhD Programme, a transformative initiative spearheaded by President Cyril Ramaphosa to elevate South Africa’s research and innovation landscape.