STFC-NRF Signing Ceremony

The National Research Foundation and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) the have officially renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in research and innovation ecosystems.

The renewed MoU builds on a strong foundation established since the initial agreement signed in 2021, cemented through activities funded by the British Council’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF)—the Research Infrastructures Partnership Programme (RIPP) and Africa-UK Physics Partnership (AUPP). Over the years, the partnership has yielded meaningful outcomes, including astronomy, nuclear physics and environmental monitoring.

Speaking at the renewal ceremony, Professor Michele Dougherty, STFC’s Executive Chair highlighted the importance of sustaining the partnership, “The renewed agreement reflects a shared vision to deepen cooperation and respond to evolving priorities in South Africa and the UK.”

Says Dr Gugu Moche, Acting Deputy CEO (RIISA) and Group Executive of Digital Transformations at NRF, “This partnership is built on a powerful intersection: our shared goals, our overlapping research priorities, and our joint commitment to an inclusive, strategic, and well-informed research sector.”

“This marks another milestone in the partnership and underscores the shared commitment of both parties to long-term, impactful collaboration,” she added.