The UK has announced up to R1 billion (£50 million) of the new
International Science Partnership Fund to support UK-South Africa
science and research collaboration over the next two
years.
This was announced by the British High Commissioner at a
reception attended by Minister of Science and Innovation, Blade
Nzimande, and His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of
Edinburgh.
Speaking at the event, Minister Nzimande said:
“South Africa warmly welcomes the launch of the International
Science Partnership Fund and both my Departments, the Department
of Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education
and Training, stand ready to work with their counterparts in the
UK to co-design and co-fund, programmes to be implemented with
the support of the Fund. These values of co-ownership and
co-responsibility, which also underpinned our successful
cooperation under the Newton Fund, is crucial for South Africa,
as it ensures alignment with our national priorities.
I am also delighted that the Fund will continue to support our
joint efforts in support of the Square Kilometre Array
Observatory global partnership, by developing skills for radio
astronomy in Africa.”
UK High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson
said:
“Rapid, equitable progress against global challenges such as
climate change or towards the Sustainable Development Goals
cannot be achieved without collaboration on science, research,
technology and innovation.
“We need to come together to share expertise and
experience, which is why we are grateful for the close
partnership we have with the Department of Science and Innovation
and Minister Nzimande himself and all the partners here tonight.
We look forward to continuing to work together, to amplify the
impacts of our science partnerships together over the months and
years ahead.”
Researchers and scientists from the UK and South Africa have
worked together for many decades to tackle some of the world’s
most pressing challenges, developing impactful products such as
weather warning systems to provide South African communities with
the information they need to respond appropriately, helping to
protect livelihoods and save lives.
This new investment will further strengthen the UK and South
Africa’s research partnerships and networks that have been
nurtured over the years. It will address the growing burden of
non-communicable diseases by connecting experts in the UK and
South Africa through our countries’ Medical Research Councils,
harnessing medical innovation, and building regional capacity to
tackle shared health priorities.
To tackle unemployment and boost economic growth, it will nurture
tomorrow’s talent by building and sustaining a talented and
skilled cohort of early-career researchers. It will catalyse
partnerships between universities, large companies, SMEs and
startups to address sustainable development goals, for example
through the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Transforming Systems
through Partnerships programme and the Leaders in Innovation
Fellowships (LIF) programme working alongside South Africa’s
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
It will help us to better understand and address the impacts of
climate change, including better monitoring and prediction of
extreme weather events, by continuing joint initiatives such as
the UK-South Africa Weather and Climate Science for Service
Partnership (WCSSP).
Crucially, it will support the development of robust research and
innovation systems across South Africa with the aim of driving
economic development and prosperity.
Our Science and Technology partnership with South Africa is
long-standing, and continues to grow and create lasting global
and local impact.
During the State Visit in November 2022, the UK and SA signed a
new Science, Technology, Research and Innovation Memorandum of
Understanding agreeing further collaboration in research and
innovation in our mutual priority sectors of emerging technology
(including AI), agriculture technology, health, oceans, climate
and energy, and space.
This new funding consolidates the UK’s continued commitment to
work in partnership with South Africa to deliver our mutually
agreed priorities and address global, regional, and local
challenges.
