About us
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  About the NRF
  
  History
  
  The National Research Foundation was established as an independant government agency, through the National Research Foundation Act [Act No.23 of 1998].
  
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  What we do
  
  The NRF receives its mandate from the National Research Foundation Act (Act No 23 of 1998, as amended). According to Section 3 of the Act, the object of the NRF is to contribute to national development by:
  
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  Corporate Executive Biographies
  
  Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo
  Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  
  Mr Bishen Singh
  Group Executive: Finance and Supply Chain Management
  
  Dr Thandi Mgwebi
  Group Executive: Business Advancement
  
  Mr Kedirang Oagile
  Group Executive: Corporate Services
  
  Dr Gugu Moche
  Group Executive: Digital Transformation Acting Deputy CEO: Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement
  
  Dr Angus Paterson
  Deputy CEO: National Research Infrastructure Platforms
Funding
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  Current
  
  Funding
  
  Open Calls for Researchers
  
  Call for Applications for Evaluation and Rating 2026
  
  Announcement of Successful Proposals for the Global Research Council Sustainable Devlopment Goals Pilot Call
  
  Open Calls for Students
  
  DSTI-NRF Honours Funding for the 2026 Academic Year
  
  DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2026 Academic Year
  
  Announcement of Call: NRF Postgraduate Scholarships – SARAO Honours
  
  Student Application Outcomes
  
  ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS FOR THE DSTI-NRF SARChI MASTERS AND DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FUNDING IN 2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
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  ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS FOR THE DSTI-NRF MARINE AND ANTARCTIC MASTERS AND DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FUNDING IN 2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
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  Non-NRF Opportunities
  
  Strengthening Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation between Europe and South Africa
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  HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM ORGANIZATION: Call for submission of applications
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  General Application Guide
  
  Multiple Grant Eligibility Criteria
  
  NRF Call for Proposals for Funding in 2025 and 2026
  
  Expired Calls for Researchers
  
  Expired Calls for Students
  
  Click here for more information
Research
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  Research
  
  iThemba Laboratories
  
  Africa’s leading research facility for accelerator based science. Probing fundamental structure and the origins of matter; Advancing the understanding of condensed matter; Impacting the Societal need through provision for the health and environmental sector
  
  National Equipment Database
  
  Grants Register
  
  NRF Rating
  
  Access to Global Infrastructure
  
  Centres of Excellence
  
  South African Research Chairs Initiative
  
  High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy
  
  National Research Facilities
  
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  The iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences is the continents' biggest facility for particle and nuclear research.
  
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  The SAAO is a national facility of the NRF and the national centre for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa.
  
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  SAEON is a national platform for detecting, translating and predicting environmental change.
  
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  SAIAB provides unique skills and infrastructure support in marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems research, molecular research, collections and bioinformatics.
  
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  SARAO is a national facility of the NRF and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as MeerKAT and KAT-7 telescopes in the Karoo, (HartRAO) in Gauteng...
Engagement
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  Engagement
  
  Science Engagement
  
  South Africa’s innovation revolution must assist in solving our society’s deep and pressing socio-economic challenges. Global competitiveness, shrinking resource availability, and the requirements of a skilled labour force mean that, increasingly, an awareness and understanding of why science and research are critical to our lives is essential for developing an innovation culture.
  
  Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA)
  
  Within the next five years, the aim is to begin to more fully embed engagement in and with science in the core NRF missions of supporting and promoting new knowledge and growing new knowledge workers. This is led by the formulation of an acceptable NRF position on engaged research which will guide the NRF approach…
  
  Science for Society Lecture Series
  
  South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA)
  
  NRF | SAASTA is the NRF business division tasked with leading and coordinating the science engagement programme across the NRF and beyond. The NRF is equally committed to ensuring that the science engagement leadership and national coordination role…
  
  Science Engagement at National Research Facilities
  
  The NRF provides leading-edge research infrastructure platforms that ensure that the national research enterprise has the requisite infrastructure to undertake globally competitive discovery science, train the next generation of researchers, support engagement with science by and with the public and promote innovation that positively impacts society, the environment, the economy.
  
  Science Matters Magazine
  
  NRF Engaged Research Framework
  
  SET Career Guide
  
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NRF Impact
Info Portal
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  Information Portal
  
  Data: Data emanating from the NRF’s business processes
  
  NRF Insights: A series of information analysis briefings
  
  Review Reports
  
  Register of Grants
  
  Register of Students
  
  NRF Rated Researchers
  
  Additional Datasets
  
  Additional datasets will be included in the near future and will include information emanating from the NRF as well as other role players in the National System of Innovation (NSI).
  
  HEMIS - Staff
  
  HEMIS - Students
  
  DHET Subsidy
  
  Institutional Access
  
  Institutions will soon be able to log in and retrieve their detailed institutional data.
News & Events
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  News & Events
  
  NRF Awards
  
  The annual NRF Awards recognize and celebrate South African research excellence. The awards presented to researchers are in two categories, the ratings linked awards and special recognition awards.
  
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  Media Contacts
  
  Bongani Nkosi
  Media Relations and Stakeholder Officer
  Corporate Communications
  Tel: 012 481 4317
  Email: B.Nkosi@nrf.ac.za
Procurement
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  Procurement
  
  Procurement Invitations
  
  Register of Bids Received
  
  Register of Bids Awarded
  
  Ethical Procurement
  
  The National Research Foundation (NRF) conducts its procurement of goods, services, and works in accordance with its Supply Chain Management Policy in a manner that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective
  
  General Conditions of Contract
  
  The National Research Foundation (NRF) is guided by its Supply Chain Management Policy in its procurement of goods and services. The Policy sets out the prescripts issued by National Treasury with the exact note referenced in the footnotes. The Supply Chain Management policy adheres to the National Treasury’s prescribed supply chain system framework.
  The NRF’s Supply Chain Management Policy and the conduct of supply chain management at the NRF seeks to give effect to section 217 of the South African Constitution which requires that all procurement of goods and services must be done in a manner that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
  
  Awards & Contracts
  
  The National Research Foundation bid awards and contracts. Below is the latest award.
  
  Awards and Contracts
  APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE SUPPLY AND SUPPORT OF A FTIR MICROSCOPE (FTIR) WITH A FIVE-YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR THE SHALLOW MARINE AND COASTAL RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE (SMCRI), GQEBERHA.
  January 5, 2026
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