“Advances in science technology and innovation must serve both the people and the planet. The world we are living in is going through a period of profound global transformation marked by existential threats and the suffering of countless people”.
These are phrases of the Director General of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Dr Mlungisi Cele.
He was addressing a dinner with world thought leaders on the sidelines of the Science Forum South Africa 2025. The occasion was collectively hosted by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), a subsidiary of the DSI, and the University of Johannesburg.
Shaping future-ready science and know-how
In her opening remarks, NACI’s performing chief government officer, Anneline Morgan, outlined the aim of the occasion, saying the occasion aimed to replicate on the pivotal position of the scholarly advisors in shaping future-ready science, know-how and innovation insurance policies.
She mentioned the dialogue sought to deepen the interrogation of research-based insights into coverage making at provincial and nationwide ranges.
This could be achieved by fostering significant engagements between worldwide ideas leaders and the South African National Systems of Innovation stakeholders, she mentioned. In addition, the occasion supplied a possibility to re-imagine how advisory roles could be institutionalised in methods which might be inclusive, responsive and forward-looking.
Global alignment of insurance policies
The theme of the occasion was: “The role of scholarly advice in shaping future-ready science, technology and innovation (STI) policies”. Morgan mentioned the 1996 White Paper on STI has supplied a basis for the nationwide techniques of innovation, and has supplied a vital framework that guided the STI coverage and institutional reforms and that is nonetheless holds immediately. She mentioned there’s a world consensus that science should be positioned on the centre of sustainable improvement and societal progress.
According to Morgan, this aligns with the positions of different essential our bodies such because the African Union, G20 and BRICS, she mentioned. For occasion, the AU’s Science,Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034 imaginative and prescient, positions STI on the centre of the continent’s data economic system.
Similarly, G20 underscores STI because the catalyst for equitable, inclusive and sustainable progress guaranteeing that innovation serves humanity as public good. BRICS additionally endorses and recognises STI as a pillar of improvement and financial progress.
Exploring progressive methods
Dr Cele’s handle – learn by Deputy Director-General: Institutional Planning and Support, Gugu Zwane in his absence – reminded the members concerning the 2024 assembly of heads of state and authorities officers on the UN the place they mirrored on the way forward for “our shared world”.
He mentioned despite the fact that the scenario within the globe is characterised by turmoil and instabilities, this supplies an essential alternative and a platform to make use of science to replicate and discover progressive methods of deepening co-operation rooted in humanity.
He mentioned the DSI’s White Paper directs them that “science must serve a purpose”and that is in keeping with their mantra to put STI on the centre of presidency, schooling and society.
Navigating and anticipating future challenges
“This gathering is a call for reflection in an era defined by rapid technological changes such as climate uncertainties and shifting global dynamics. The bridge between research and policy has never been more critical. Academic research is one of the most powerful pillars we have to navigate complexities, anticipate future challenges, and design public policies that are both innovative and evidence-based”, mentioned Tilson Manyoni, NACI’s chairperson.
Strengthening and accelerating transformation
He mentioned of their current National System of Innovation (NSI) and Transformation Summit, they addressed points associated to the NSI and its achievements up to now. For instance, we requested, he mentioned, why the post-apartheid NSI transformation has not yielded the specified outcomes. And how they will deepen and speed up the transformation of the NSI and data to raised serve science, society and the planet.
He mentioned the significance of selling science as a device for human development was additional evidenced by the G20’s adoption of declaration on science emphasising that science ought to serve humanity.
Manyoni additionally highlighted the necessity to bridge the hole between data era and coverage implementation, saying you will need to strengthen dialogue between lecturers, society, authorities and business.
“It is through these partnerships that research becomes policy and policy becomes progress,” he mentioned, including “let us make academic research more accessible, relevant, and actionable.”
Leveraging world networks
Fostering collaborations and partnerships as autos to advance science additionally got here into sharp focus through the occasion. Professor Kraemer-Mbula put this in perspective when she spoke about Globelics and its position. Kraemer-Mbula is the present chair and holder of the DSI/NRF Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation.
She can be a member of Globelics, a think-tank that performs a pivotal position as a worldwide community that leverages experience in coverage design, good practices together with an advisory position.
We are assembly on the time when science, know-how and innovation techniques are below stress to reply to a number of transitions such ecological, technological, geopolitical and social transitions, mentioned Kraemer-Mbula.
“Globelics provides concepts that assist governments to make sense of complexity. The concept of innovative systems, as a restructuring framework, has been taken up in many parts of the world including South Africa,” mentioned Professor Kraemer-Mbula.
South Africa’s White Paper of 1996 was knowledgeable by the idea of progressive techniques and this has been very essential in guiding the nation to design its remaining coverage on STI, she mentioned. Other international locations have additionally structured or designed their STI coverage based mostly on the identical mannequin.
Global South perspective
She mentioned Globelics was based 20 years in the past based mostly on the concept that innovation should be understood in context. “It is shaped by history, institutions, and by capabilities, culture, and therefore the perspective from the Global South is very important,” mentioned Professor Kraemer-Mbula. To date the organisation has grown considerably boasting chapters in all corners of the globe, she mentioned, including that the organisation continues to function an important useful resource for presidency on issues associated to science and innovation.
It makes use of comparative research and reflections from varied international locations to supply quite a lot of coverage choices and frameworks that varied authorities and coverage advisors can discover or undertake.