SA and Uganda Take A Historic Step Towards Stronger Science Collaboration

Wednesday, 13 November 2024, marked a momentous occasion as the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 2024 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa Annual Forum and the Global Research Council (GRC) Regional Meeting, hosted in Botswana. 

This partnership strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the two organisations, with a shared commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation across Africa.

The NRF and UNCST have a rich history of joint initiatives bilaterally and through the SGCI. This MoU sets the stage for even deeper collaboration in the years ahead. 

The development comes on the back of the recent announcement of the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chair (ORTARChI) at Makerere University, awarded to Prof David Beya, who will focus on researching neurological disorders. The NRF, UNCST, Makerere University, IDRC and the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation (OATF) have partnered in funding and supporting the Chair. The MoU provides the overarching framework for this strategic investment. 

As both councils continue to work together, this partnership promises to drive transformative advancements for Africa’s research landscape.