Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande has revealed that the withdrawal of United States research funding has cost South Africa's science and research system approximately R2.5 billion. This significant loss has placed research posts and student degrees at risk, highlighting the country's dependence on foreign funding. The US government withdrew funding from South African health research and clinical trial programs, including work focused on HIV and tuberculosis.
The Ministerial Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Funding was established to address the issue. According to Nzimande, affected institutions include the University of Cape Town, Wits University, the University of Pretoria, the South African Medical Research Council, and CAPRISA. The South African Medical Research Council estimated that R1.6 billion in cuts linked to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) placed 1,930 research posts and 108 student degrees at risk.
One of the affected programs was an HIV vaccine trial that lost a newly awarded five-year grant worth $45 million. However, Nzimande noted that the NIH had indicated that some funding could be reinstated after determining that it did not fall within the definition of foreign aid. The report recommends more predictable domestic funding for strategic research, protection of critical health, genomics, biotechnology, and public health platforms, and increased public and private spending on research and development.
South Africa currently spends about 0.62% of its gross domestic product on research and development, falling short of the national target of 1.5%. Nzimande stated that about 17.3% of the country's research and development funding was dependent on foreign donors, with health research being more exposed than some other fields. The report emphasizes the need for South Africa to diversify its international funding relationships rather than relying heavily on partners in the US and Europe.
The report also calls for stronger conditions in international research agreements covering data, intellectual property, technology transfer, local manufacturing, and skills development. Nzimande highlighted the importance of scientific sovereignty, which involves setting South Africa's research priorities, sustaining strategic capabilities, and protecting intellectual assets while continuing international collaboration. Cooperation with countries such as China is increasing, while partnerships with the US, United Kingdom, and European Union will continue where mutually beneficial.
Department director-general Mlungisi Cele noted that reaching the target of spending 1.5% of GDP on research and development would require a review of existing research incentives and greater private-sector investment. Private-sector spending on research and development is currently below 50% of total investment and lags behind international levels. The report contains 11 recommendations, with Cabinet approving its core recommendations and its release for public comment.
The report is open for public comment until December 31, and submissions will be considered in drawing up an implementation framework. Nzimande emphasized that the funding shock should be used to strengthen South Africa's science system rather than retreat from international cooperation. The Presidency will also appoint a Science, Technology and Innovation Sovereign Risk Advisory Council to oversee the implementation of the accepted recommendations.
Key points
- The US research funding cuts have cost South Africa's science system R2.5bn, putting research posts and student degrees at risk.
- The report recommends more predictable domestic funding for strategic research and increased public and private spending on research and development.
- South Africa aims to increase its research and development spending to 1.5% of GDP, with a focus on diversifying international funding relationships.
