Yesterday, 29 September 2026, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, officially released the report of the Ministerial Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Funding for public comment.
The report responds to a rapidly changing global science, technology and innovation environment characterised by shifting funding priorities, geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and intensifying technological competition.
Recent disruptions—including restrictions on access to vaccines and therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the January 2025 withdrawal of United States federal funding from major health research and clinical trial programmes in South Africa—have underscored the risks of excessive dependence on external funding.
Speaking at the official media briefing in Pretoria, Minister Nzimande said: “South Africa needs a stronger and more resilient domestic funding architecture, together with a firm commitment to protect public science infrastructure as a strategic national asset.”
He added: “Scientific sovereignty does not mean isolation or retreat from international collaboration. It means having the capacity to set our research priorities, sustain strategic capabilities, protect intellectual assets and deploy science in support of national development, while engaging the world through cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect.”
Minister Nzimande established the Working Group in May 2025 to assess the impact of foreign funding on the national system of innovation and recommend measures to secure its long-term sustainability.
The Working Group submitted its report in August 2025. In July 2026, the Ministry presented the report and its 11 recommendations to Cabinet.
Cabinet subsequently approved the core recommendations and directed the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation to oversee their coordinated implementation.
Minister Nzimande thanked the Working Group's convener, Dr Derrick Swartz, and its members for their contribution to strengthening South Africa's science, technology and innovation system.
The report identifies five immediate priorities:
• Establish predictable domestic funding for strategic research programmes.
• Protect critical platforms in health, genomics, biotechnology and public-health systems.
• Increase public and private investment in research and development towards the national target of 1.5% of GDP.
• Strengthen coordination among government, universities, science councils, industry and provinces.
• Ensure that international partnerships provide fair arrangements for data, intellectual property, technology transfer, local manufacturing and skills development.
To inform the next phase of implementation, the report is open for public comment until 31 December 2026.
A departmental team, supported by external experts, will analyse the submissions and use the findings to develop an Implementation Framework for the recommendations.
Once finalised, the Implementation Framework will be submitted to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation for approval.
In addition, the President will appoint a Science, Technology and Innovation Sovereign Risk Advisory Council. The Council, incubated by the National Advisory Council on Innovation, will provide analytical support for implementation.
“Public science is central to health and social security, industrialisation, economic prosperity, a better quality of life, peace and South Africa’s contribution to global well-being,” Minister Nzimande said.
“Sustained implementation of the Working Group’s core recommendations can move our country from vulnerability to resilience, from dependency to strategic autonomy, and from crisis response to long-term scientific nation-building.”
Media enquiries:
Mr Veli Mbele
Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson to the Minister
Mr Veli Mbele
Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson to the Minister
Cell: 064 615 0644
E-mail: Veli.Mbele@dsti.gov.za
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