Question No: 994
“993. Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:
(1) How much funding for research was (a) allocated to South African scientists by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and (b) unspent (i) in (aa) 2007 and (bb) 2008 and (ii) during the period 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which the information is available;
(2) Whether the amount of funding has declined over the years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the reason for the decline?
Reply:
1(a) (i) The following amounts were allocated to researchers during the financial years indicated in brackets R666 366 323 (2007/08); R759 013 053 (2008/9); and
(ii) R911 390 549 (2009/10 anticipated).
1(b) (i) The following amounts were unspent during the financial years indicated in brackets R123 666 651 (2007/8); R331 169 340 (2008/9); and
(ii) R64 610 992 (2009/10 anticipated).
2 As indicated in 1(a) above, in the period 2006/07 to 2009/10 the funding that NRF allocated to scientists has increased by almost 50 percent from R633 494 223 to R911 390 549.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
7 October 2009
