The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) would like to invite you to a webinar discussion on the importance of science, technology and innovation priorities and their contribution to the objectives of the National Development Plan.

TOPIC: THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PRIORITIES ON THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS

DATE: 17 MARCH 2021 | TIME: 10H45 – 13H00 | 

In July 2020, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced in the 2020 Budget Speech Vote that the Ministry would finalise a Decadal Plan that will highlight the science, technology and innovation priorities and missions for the sector. While the process draws towards conclusion, SAASTA is facilitating a webinar discussion to shed light on the importance of science, technology and innovation priorities and their potential impact on societal development. Critical to the country’s selection of science, technology and innovation priorities is their response to challenges at national and international levels and, therefore, a need to reframe policy. Through these policy changes, the roles of curiosity-led (or fundamental) and mission-led (priority) research is identified, with the latter critical in contributing to societal development.

The webinar will unpack the 2019 Synthesis Report by the National Advisory Council on Innovation, which identified nine science, technology and innovation domains as potential candidates to prioritise. The webinar will encourage a discussion grounded on the impact of these priorities in the past decades and potential impact in these priority research areas for the benefit of the country and its standing on the international stage, especially in a fast changing world. This will necessitate the guidance of all stakeholders in the sector and more especially the National Planning Commission, to align the science, technology and innovation investment to the goals of the National Development Plan. The objectives of the webinar are, therefore, as follows:

• To understand the need for reframing science, technology and innovation policy in Africa for the continent to contribute to addressing global challenges;

• To discuss the impact of post-1996 South Africa’s science, technology and innovation priorities in contributing to societal development and national development goals;

• To encourage public engagement dialogue, debate and discussions in science, technology and innovation priorities to enable informed decision-making on matters affecting society.