Federal Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Germany, Minister Wanka,
Distinguished Guests.
Wir freuen uns bei Ihnen in Berlin zu sein und bedanken uns für die freundliche Aufnahme, die Sie uns zukommen lassen in Ihrem schönen Land.
Wir haben für unseren Besuch den Frühling gewählt – eine Zeit, die jedes Jahr immer wieder als Symbol steht für Neuanfänge im Lebensrythmus und auch somit für uns weitere Kapitel aufschlägt für das Vorankommen unserer wissenschaftlich-technologischen Auslandsbeziehung, die zugleich gute Zusammenarbeit verlangt. Obwohl Süd Afrika und Deutschland unterschiedliche Länder auf unterschiedlichen Kontinenten sind, hat uns unsere Zusammenarbeit in den Bereichen Wissenschaft und Technologie ähnliche Anschauungen vermittelt, die anregen, unsere Welt weitaus besser gestalten zu können, im wesentlichen mit Hilfe von wertvollen Neuerungen auf diesen Gebieten (Wissenschaft und Technologie).
The connectedness of the global economy came sharply into focus with the 2008 economic meltdown that in one way or another affected virtually all the economies of the world. Five years later, the global economy is still carrying the scars of that meltdown; and has yet to emerge stronger from such a negative impact. There is a general acknowledgment that this multitude of global challenges requires focussed collaborative initiatives that provide solutions.
Our respective countries are both acutely aware of the important role that R&D and innovation play in economic development. A strong S&T network, which includes higher education institutions, research associations and industry, is a key success factor for the research and innovation output of any country that aspires to be counted among the leading economies of the world. It is in this context that our science diplomacy finds resonance in forging links internationally.
Minister Wanka, it is not difficult to see why we value the SA-German science cooperation. Your country’s S&T achievements are significant. There is no doubt that Germany is a leader in cutting-edge technology. South Africa naturally desires to be associated with a world leader in that regard. More so, because the South African Government adopted in 2008 a Ten Year Innovation Plan that sets our country on an economic development trajectory that seeks to migrate from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.
The recently released South African National Development Plan expands on our strategies to turn our economy around. Our point of departure is the acknowledgement that higher education is the major driver of the information/knowledge system. We are therefore aiming to increase the science participation rate in higher education to more than 30 percent. We also aim to double the number of scientists, and increase the numbers of African and female postgraduates, especially PhDs, to improve capacity in research and innovation.
We pursue this science collaboration because we realise that no country can grow and survive in isolation, particularly in the area of science. The international nature of cooperation and innovation in science and technology is central to enhancing a country’s competitiveness, its economic development, its human capital and its technology transfer.
The similarity in objectives I’m talking about has been cultivated over sixteen years of collaboration in science, sharing of information, knowledge and expertise. I would venture to say that both our countries have benefited enormously from this mutual collaboration. The achievements we are celebrating today, as we approach the conclusion of our year of science, are proof of this mutual benefit.
Having said that, it is important that we should reflect on the many activities that have already happened and take stock of the many investments in the cooperation between South Africa and Germany. Numerous initiatives including an annual call for research launched between the two countries, flagship projects, human capital development exchanges as well as institutional collaboration, have been just some of the elements of this partnership.
Furthermore, we are collaborating with Germany and other regional partners including Angola, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia in terms of responding to the challenges of global change through the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) project. The establishment of this Centre will create added value not only for the two countries but for the Southern African region as a whole. It will be a fitting tribute to the success of this bilateral cooperation which is now extending its cooperative capacity to other African partner countries.
Also, South Africa has collaborated with Germany in the Inkaba YeAfrica project. This collaborative Earth Science initiative is both multidisciplinary and intercultural, dovetailing next-generation science and technology with a strong training and capacity-building component that is aligned with the R&D strategies of both nations. Three teams of earth scientists from leading institutes in both countries are tackling the global challenges of climate change, sustainable resources, clean water and energy in this research.
Of strategic importance for South Africa is the further improvement of our human capital base, especially an increase in the number of African and women postgraduates, in particular PhDs, to improve and diversify research and innovation capacity. Our collaboration has already supported these goals, through the strategic opportunities, such as, for example, the (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service) – National Research Foundation (NRF) scholarship programme.
These are just some examples in our long collaboration that has culminated in the celebration of the Year of Science. Some of the objectives we had set ourselves for the Year of Science included to promote and showcase existing co-operation; initiate new partnerships between South African and German research institutions, universities and companies; stimulate in both countries the interest of young scientists in co-operating with their counterparts; and to continue to promote South Africa and Germany as key locations of innovation among strong research-based companies in both countries.
The Year of Science has seen 41 initiatives jointly funded by both countries. Engagements have ranged from technical workshops and conferences, such as the Young Academies Symposium on Sustainability serving as a platform for engaging the youth in science, the global academy, etc. Giving young scientists a voice and providing them with a platform to influence policy decisions, is a key objective of my department.
Having said so, I must stress that the entire event was a major personal highlight for me. Three issues were particularly pleasing to me. Firstly, the student involvement in this event is a major contribution in developing and attracting the youth into science careers. Secondly, the involvement of women in science was significant because I believe that women play a crucial role in our societies and in the world of research. Lastly, the deliberations at the opening session during the Astronomy Symposium highlighted the importance of Astronomy, and that bodes well for our position as a major shareholder in the SKA project.
One of the highlights of the Year of Science is the Antartic expedition. Considering South Africa’s proximity to the Antarctic, the Southern Ocean, the Agulhas and the Benguela currents, our country is geographically well placed to serve as a unique laboratory for understanding climate change. Together with 11 other countries, South Africa is a founder member of the Antarctic Treaty that was signed in 1959.
We appreciate the initiative by Germany last year proposing that our respective countries should conduct a joint inspection of the Antarctic bases under the banner of the Germany – South Africa Year of Science. The joint inspection team from Germany and South was undertaken at the beginning of this year. The following stations were inspected: Troll (Norway); Halley VI (United Kingdom); Princess Elisabeth (Belgium); and Maitri (India).
A draft inspection report has been developed by the team, and it will be presented to the 36th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Brussels in next month as part of the working papers for environment, logistics and science sessions.
To promote science amongst the youth, an Essay Competition was planned as one of the activities for the celebration of the YoS. The seven themes of the YoS were identified as seven topics from which learners could choose. I am glad to inform you that today we have in our midst the winners of the South African leg of the Competition – they are Zandile Mashabane, Mukundi Mushiana and Thandeka Maimane.
A world-class research infrastructure is one of the pillars for building a competitive knowledge economy. A world-class research infrastructure attracts the best human capital resources. My department has developed a research infrastructure framework that highlights the important role played by research infrastructure in advancing knowledge and technology as well as skills development in South Africa.
Furthermore, over the past few months South Africa was catapulted to the global Centre stage as the final outcome of the Square Kilometre Array was deliberated. This attention was successfully leveraged to showcase our country’s vast scientific developments and capabilities.
Minister Wanka, I must thank you for the support of Germany in the SKA project. Germany’s involvement in the SKA is strategic, as the country has an excellent track record not only in radio astronomy, but also in the management and delivery of science megaprojects and associated engineering capacity. This expertise will be of great benefit to the SKA project as South Africa moves towards the construction phase of the telescope.
One active German company in the SKA project is Nokia Siemens Network (NSN) which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with my department last year to work with the SKA Project Office on large-scale computing, data transport and storage. This development showcases how critical public and private sector partnerships in science and technology are.
As a department, we are excited to acknowledge that Science and its role in society has been brought to the fore and there has been dialogue and discourse taking place both in South Africa and in Germany on the role that international cooperation in science, technology and innovation can play in enhancing research efforts.
Over the past years we have said much about how beneficial the science cooperation is for the two countries. Let me take this opportunity to reflect on how South Africa intends to invest in the future sustainability of the cooperation. Our plan is to grow and strengthen the collaboration as already indicated; more so in some of the thematic areas of mutual interest, such as human capital development, climate change, astronomy and innovation.
No doubt, the seeding initiatives under the SA-German Year of Science call will yield new joint research areas which will have not only an impact bilaterally but will open up opportunities to enter the multilateral research space of EU framework joint research programmes.
The experience we have gained from our international partners has put our country in a position to advance in other strategic areas as well. Three days ago I launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Paaeosciences to enhance South Africa’s position and capacity in the field. The five key performance areas of Centres of Excellence project are research/knowledge production; education and training; information brokerage; networking and service rendering. By the end of the 2011/12 financial year, CoE members had contributed a total of 786 publications consisting of 584 peer-reviewed journal articles, 168 conference publications and 34 book chapters.
A total of 488 post-graduate students benefited from the CoE programme during 2011. The Centres continued to make steady progress in increasing the number of black students and women in particular. A total of eight Centres of Excellence were given financial support amounting to R 79 487 180 in 2011.
The CoEs are funded at a rate of between R7 million and R9 million per annum, depending on their capacity, increasing at the rate of inflation during a 10-year period. One of the important terms of reference for the CoE is that it will focus on existing institutional excellence and strengthen fields which are rapidly diminishing such as micropalaeontology and fossil palynology.
As I have indicated, South Africa is working hard to move towards a knowledge-based economy. In order for us to achieve this aim, there is an increased need to leverage off the skills and expertise that reside within our international partners. We see Germany as having tremendous research and innovation strengths, for example in the field of human capital development, which would enhance our national system of innovation. In addition, South Africa hosts expertise in several areas, in which we are also happy to collaborate with partners such as Germany.
I am pleased that Minister Wanka and I will be signing a statement of Intent on the setting-up of a bilateral research chair, to engage within the human capital development platform.
Ladies and gentlemen, the need for international cooperation cannot be over-emphasised. South Africa’s Vision Statement contained in the National Development Plan is to eliminate poverty and to reduce inequality by 2030. All these noble objectives will be doomed without cooperation with our international partners such as Germany.
Looking back at what we have achieved, and the enormous work done by the staff of the two countries in ensuring a successful Year of Science, I wish to thank all of you who have contributed to this success. The groundwork has been done for our two countries to register new achievements, so that we can come and gather here again in the not too distant future to celebrate our science and technology endeavours.
In closing, allow me to leave you with a thought from the great scientist Albert Einstein. He said that there were three rules of work: “Out of clutter find simplicity, from discord find harmony, in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity“. Perhaps we can add a fourth rule: “Out of co-operation find progress.”
Thank you!
