22 JANUARY, PRETORIA The UK has announced up to R1 billion (£50 million) of the new International Science Partnership Fund to support UK-South Africa science and research collaboration over the next two years.
This was announced by the British High Commissioner at a reception attended by Minister of Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, and His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Edinburgh.
Speaking at the event, Minister Nzimande said:
"South Africa warmly welcomes the launch of the International Science Partnership Fund and both my Departments, the Department of Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education and Training, stand ready to work with their counterparts in the UK to co-design and co-fund, programmes to be implemented with the support of the Fund. These values of co-ownership and co-responsibility, which also underpinned our successful cooperation under the Newton Fund, is crucial for South Africa, as it ensures alignment with our national priorities.
I am also delighted that the Fund will continue to support our joint efforts in support of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory global partnership, by developing skills for radio astronomy in Africa."
UK High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson said:
"Rapid, equitable progress against global challenges such as climate change or towards the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without collaboration on science, research, technology and innovation.
"We need to come together to share expertise and experience, which is why we are grateful for the close partnership we have with the Department of Science and Innovation and Minister Nzimande himself and all the partners here tonight. We look forward to continuing to work together, to amplify the impacts of our science partnerships together over the months and years ahead."
Researchers and scientists from the UK and South Africa have worked together for many decades to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges, developing impactful products such as weather warning systems to provide South African communities with the information they need to respond appropriately, helping to protect livelihoods and save lives.
This new investment will further strengthen the UK and South Africa's research partnerships and networks that have been nurtured over the years. It will address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases by connecting experts in the UK and South Africa through our countries' Medical Research Councils, harnessing medical innovation, and building regional capacity to tackle shared health priorities.
To tackle unemployment and boost economic growth, it will nurture tomorrow's talent by building and sustaining a talented and skilled cohort of early-career researchers. It will catalyse partnerships between universities, large companies, SMEs and startups to address sustainable development goals, for example through the Royal Academy of Engineering's Transforming Systems through Partnerships programme and the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme working alongside South Africa's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
It will help us to better understand and address the impacts of climate change, including better monitoring and prediction of extreme weather events, by continuing joint initiatives such as the UK-South Africa Weather and Climate Science for Service Partnership (WCSSP).
Crucially, it will support the development of robust research and innovation systems across South Africa with the aim of driving economic development and prosperity.
Our Science and Technology partnership with South Africa is long-standing, and continues to grow and create lasting global and local impact.
During the State Visit in November 2022, the UK and SA signed a new Science, Technology, Research and Innovation Memorandum of Understanding agreeing further collaboration in research and innovation in our mutual priority sectors of emerging technology (including AI), agriculture technology, health, oceans, climate and energy, and space.
This new funding consolidates the UK's continued commitment to work in partnership with South Africa to deliver our mutually agreed priorities and address global, regional, and local challenges.
