SASUF: The NRF hosts Swedish Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Funding Agencies

The significant joint research investments between South Africa and Sweden were one of the main discussion areas during a visit of a large delegation of Swedish Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Funding Agencies to the NRF on 27 March. The engagement forms part of the South Africa-Sweden University Forum’s (SASUF) Research and Innovation Week hosted this year in South Africa during 27-31 March, including a joint Sustainability Forum.

Inaugurated in 2017, SASUF serves as a strategic internationalisation project uniting 40 partner universities in South Africa and Sweden. In its first phase (2018 – 2020) SASUF connected more than 3 000 Swedish and South African researchers, teachers, students and university leaders in workshops and seminars. In 2021 the collaboration was granted further funding (including from the NRF) for its second phase (2022 – 2024), now known as SASUF 2030.

The NRF’s funding and strategic programmes with Sweden includes partnerships with Sida for the SGCI and the Belmont Forum, bilateral research with STINT, and the Swedish Embassy for the Annual Nobel Lecture.