Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
School of Engineering
Institute for Technological Innovation (ITI)
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) which advises the Minister of Science and Technology commissioned Prof Anastassios Pouris, Director of the Institute for Technological Innovation (ITI), to identify international best practice related to the management of National Systems of Innovation and develop relevant recommendations for South Africa. The report, available from NACI, is divided into three main chapters. Chapter 1 Best Practice in Governance identifies issues related organisational structures; priority setting; public funding of research and development (R&D) and management of science and technology (S&T) capacity development. Chapter 2 Best Practice: Monitoring Science and Technology Systems provides an overview of the approaches used internationally to monitor and assess the performance of the national system of innovations (NSI). In the chapter are discussed the approaches used by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA; the Science and Technology Agency in Japan; the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicators and the approach of the Trend Chart on Innovation by the European Commission. The third chapter Best Practice: Public-Private Linkages/ Technology Transfer in Science and Technology identifies issues related to public-private linkages in science and technology in general and of technology transfer from universities in particular. Each chapter contains a relevant to South Africa discussion and a set of recommendations. The report ends with a Summary of Recommendations where all recommendations are presented together.
The main recommendations are as follows:
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) should consider recommending the establishment of Chief Scientists Offices in Government Departments both nationally and provincially
DST within its mandate to coordinate national research and innovation should consider adopting an approach of coordination through monitoring.
DST should establish an inter-departmental committee on Critical Scientific and Technological Infrastructures”.
DST, in collaboration with the DoE, should consider undertaking a drive to double the number of scientists and engineers graduating from the higher education sector within the next 10 years.
DST and Higher Education South Africa (HESA) should motivate to the Department of Home Affairs the introduction of speedy immigration visas for academics.
NACI should develop in regular intervals (e.g. biennially) the South African Science and Innovation Indicators.
NACI should consider creating a fund supporting long term research on issues of science and innovation policy.
DST should establish an IP Agency for the support of establishment of IP and technology transfer.
DST in collaboration with all relevant Departments should consider developing and expanding a Technology in Human Resources for Industry (THRIP) type programme (e.g. for energy, environment etc).
HESA, as the voice of the higher education institutions, with the support of DST should establish the necessary structures for the monitoring and assessment of the regulatory environment in which the universities of the country operate and the sector’ technology transfer activities.
DoE and DST should place priority in enhancing basic and mission oriented research in the higher education institutions in the country.
The Thsumisano Trust with the support of the DST should consider enhancing its mission to support the third mission of the universities across the total spectrum of the mission.
The report “Development of a profile of best practices in the NSI” (June 2006) is available on request by the National Advisory Council of Innovation of the Department of Science and Technology.
Contact person: Prof A Pouris.
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