Symposium Strengthens Next Generation Research Capacity

From 02 – 05 September 2025, the National Research Foundation held its second Next Generation and Emerging Researchers (NGER) Symposium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal—the maiden event was held in 2024 in Boksburg, Gauteng.

This year’s Symposium saw hundreds of next generation and emerging researchers funded by the NRF, gather to create local and global workforce connections and exchange knowledge. Critically, the platform allowed delegates to share, through poster and oral presentations, the latest groundbreaking insights on topics of interest and thought-provoking research projects in relation to the NRF’s 2030 vision of Research for a Better Society and aligned to the thematic areas in the DSI Decadal Plan.

This year, the Symposium kicked off with a unique and inspiring science engagement outreach at a local school, Umlazi Comtech High, under the theme Bridging Futures—Science and Role Modelling Experience for Schools. Proudly led by NRF-SAASTA, the outreach targeted Grade 8 and 9 learners, and sparked curiosity by showcasing the possibilities of science through role modelling by NRF-funded researchers from various universities and research councils. The programme was also supported by the KZN Department of Basic Education and the KZN Legislature.

In his welcoming remarks, NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo said “Prior to the inaugural event last year, the NRF hosted several symposia, seminars and workshops to support postgraduate students and postdoctoral Fellows. Although these were paused in 2017 due to organisational restructuring, the interventions focused on academic and grant writing, publications, ethical research, research collaboration, networking and professional development opportunities.”

“The pause offered an opportunity to reflect on feedback from previous interventions and tailor a programme that speaks to the needs of the beneficiaries,” he said. “That said, we are truly pleased that, as the NRF, we are now able to convene this symposium as we strongly believe that it is imperative for issues affecting the next generation and emerging researchers to be localised at the national level.”

Dr Nelwamondo also reaffirmed the NRF’s vision of Research for a Better Society, “The NRF supported for over 7 700 postgraduate students and emerging researchers in 2024.”

He added, “I encourage delegates to use this symposium as a ‘laboratory of ideas’ to inspire change, build collaborations, and shape South Africa’s future. I do wish you an exciting and engaging time and hope that you come out of this with a renewed sense of motivation to continue with your work.”

Delivering the opening plenary, Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Mlungisi Cele, said “The NGER Symposium is important as it highlights the system’s progress in nurturing and building the next cadre of scholars and researchers and thus awaken us to the policy and programme choices that we need to make in building a resilient research and innovation enterprise. As a research-policy-practice Department—the practice through our agencies—we have always taken pride in basing our policy development and programme implementation interventions on solid, well-researched evidence. In this regard, the DSTI has, through several commissioned research studies, generated bodies of evidence about the two groups that make up the subject of this symposium, that is, next generation researchers and emerging researchers.”

“These studies and interventions include the 2023 National PhD Tracer Study and Building a Cadre of Emerging Researchers in South Africa,” Dr Cele said. “While trends point to encouraging progress in transformation and research capacity development, challenges persist in expanding career pathways beyond academia and improving alignment between doctoral training and labour needs. In addressing some of the recommendations of the emerging researchers’ study, the Department, working with USAf, launched a follow-up programme called Advancing Early Career Researchers and Scholars which uses online digital tools to address some of the challenges identified.”

The three-day gathering also featured powerful talks from invited speakers, covering critical topics such as Interdisciplinary Research: Solving Real-World Problems; Making Your Research Talk to the Public; and From Research to Entrepreneurship. Other highlights of the symposium were two interactive panel discussions—one sharing important lessons for early-career researchers, and the other exploring ways to bridge the gap between academia and industry collaboration.

Exhibitions from all five of the NRF’s national facilities (SAEON, SAAO, SARAO, SAIAB and iThemba LABS) and the Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA) also added an important layer to the Symposium. External exhibiting partners also included: Scientific and Precision Solutions (SPS), Mintek, Universities South Africa (USAf), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Sasol Foundation.

The symposium was closed by Dr Gugu Moche, the NRF’s Group Executive for Digital Transformation and Acting Deputy CEO: Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement. She thanked the attendees for their presence, active engagement, and valuable contributions throughout the three (3) day symposium. Dr Moche urged the attendees to leverage their newfound connections and knowledge to address pressing societal challenges and pursue innovative, impactful research. She further reconfirmed the alignment of the emerging researchers’ work with the NRF’s broader 2030 strategic vision for research.