Address by Naledi Pandor MP, South African Minister of Science and Technology, at the 12th Japan Science and Technology in Society Forum, Kyoto, Japan
“How do we move forward to maintain sustainability for the future of humankind”
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Thank you, for inviting me to close this 12th Annual ‘Science and Technology in Society ‘Forum.
The subject of the forum is the same as last year. That’s because sustainability is evergreen. While the subject stays the same, the content changes because the pace of technology innovation quickens. Much has changed in a year. Specifically, there's a new sense of urgency about tackling global challenges as the MDGs run out and the SDGs run in.
I want to make three points.
- Africa must close the research gap with the rest of the world.
- African governments must take the lead in pushing for science-led development.
- Africa must keep its scientists at home.
Africa must close the research gap with the rest of the world
African research lags behind the rest of the world in most science disciplines. The overall stats are well known.With13.4 percent of the world’s population, the continent is home to only1.1 per cent of the world’s scientific researchers. It has about one scientist or engineer per 10,000 people, compared with 20 - 50 in industrial nations.
We know where the problems lie. There’s too little regional collaboration among African countries. There’s too little public support for sustainable development. There’s too little focus on programmes to mobilise science and technology for sustainable development.
In South Africa we have tried to put in place the right policies. We have a separate department to prioritise research. We have made science and technology a national priority.
Nearly a decade ago we set ourselves a climate change research challenge. Our climate change challenge takes advantage of South Africa’s strategic geographic location - close to the Antarctica, Southern Oceans, and to the Agulhus and Benguela currents.SouthAfrica’s location enables it to serve as an R&D laboratory for unique studies of earth system changes and the resulting effects on climate change as well as related incidences of diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis and other vector-borne diseases.
The starting point of this challenge is that South Africa is strategically located to pursue “Green Economy” research and that pursuing such research will yield social and economic benefits for the country with regard to attracting human capital and foreign investments. Apart from understanding the effects of green house gas (GHGs) emissions, South Africa will be better positioned to understand changes in earth systems and their impact in Africa.
Today South African scientists are making critical contributions to global work, for example, on the International Panel on Climate Change, or protecting biodiversity, or developing more efficient management systems for natural resources, such as water. We are now well placed to leverage the opportunities of the green economy, with plans for example in the field of waste research and innovation.
Nearly a decade ago we also set ourselves an energy security research challenge. We wanted to expand our energy supply infrastructure with more than half of new capacity coming from clean coal technologies and nuclear. We wanted a diversified energy portfolio. We wanted a well articulated energy efficiency programme, and we wanted a recognisable market share in fuel cell technology and hydrogen infrastructure.
South Africa has a heavy reliance on coal for its energy needs, and while it may take longer to move industrialise away from fossil fuel with its damaging carbon footprint, the research challenge was for a focus on cleaner coal technologies in addition to diversification. Our assumption was that diversification would in large part be driven by investment in R&D.
The jewel in our energy challenge crown is our hydrogen and fuel cell programme. We have developed novel metal catalysts for fuel cells from the platinum group of metals, with exciting opportunities for commercialisation. It is an excellent example of the beneficiation of our raw materials through science and technology.
I was in Japan two months ago to share our experiences in hydrogen fuel cell R&D.
We have also expanding our work in the renewable energy field, especially solar - we have developed a public private partnership programme in this field that has attracted world approval - and are well placed to become an important player in the lucrative lithium-ion battery market– as a result of smart investments.
African governments must take the lead in pushing for science-led development: STEM should be a strategic priority
South Africa is one of the champions for the new Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) adopted by African leaders at the July 2014 African Union Assembly.
STISA will focus Africa’s science, technology and innovation investment in six socio-economic benefit areas : one, eradicating hunger and ensuring food security in Africa; two, preventing and controlling disease, and ensuring human welf are in Africa; three, improving intra-African communication, through investing in physical and digital infrastructure; four, protecting Africa’s natural resources; five, building African communities, addressing aspects such as democratisation, urbanisation and conflict resolution; and six, creating wealth for Africa. Science is at the heart of the AU’s Agenda 2063.
Little will come of this plan unless each African country adopts a policy of science-led development and puts an efficient government department in place to pursue it. Only then will our grand plans be able to leverage private and philanthropic participation- like the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA),an initiative of the African Academy of Sciences and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The AESA platform was established with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust and the United Kingdom Department for International Development. It will run two new research initiatives, announced in Nairobi earlier last month - a US$70 million grant to supports even
African scientists; and Grand Challenges Africa, which supports 400 researchers to find solutions to health and development problems.
Africa must keep its scientists at home
I am often struck by the number of Africans I meet working in laboratories and science institutes outside Africa, contributing to the innovation strengths of countries in the North. I know that research is international and collaborative, but I want the international to mean from Africa by Africa-based scientists too. I believe our friends in the world do not have the same interest we do in addressing our health services, food in security, climate change, inadequate infrastructure, low skills development and technology hunger.
These problems should be addressed by African and Africa based researchers. We must create partnerships that have a clear purpose, a well crafted agenda of science-based initiatives, and public funding that adequately resources researchers and their institutions. The mandate for our research, development and innovation must be unequivocal - find solutions to our problems, create and respond. Africa must do science in Africa, for Africa and finally free itself from the belief that someone out there cares more about our problems that we do.
How do we do this?
First, major research infrastructures should be located in Africa, to develop, attract and retain talent. A good example of this is the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, which have campuses in Cape Town and New Delhi. Another is the Square Kilometre Array.
Second, regional cooperation in science and technology should be intensified, especially to address policy priorities such as public health, which due to the inter-connectedness between countries, are best addressed at the regional level.
Southern Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world and the spread of the disease remains at the forefront of the development agenda for the heads of state in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Regional cooperation works. For example, despite lack of resources and financial assistance and the U.S.blockade, Cuba is the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child, according to the World Health Organisation. There are many reasons for this success, but the intervention and assistance of the Pan American Health Organisation played the key role.
Third, and last, international partnerships should be co-owned and co-determined by all its constituents. Developing countries today are at the forefront of global scientific discovery, as highlighted for example by the pioneering work undertaken in South African in areas such microbicides to prevent HIV-Aids, as well as drug and vaccine development for malaria and tuberculosis. This is shown by the full participation, including as funding parties and equal partners, by South Africa and other African countries in the EU's European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.
Thank you.
