National Research Foundation of South Africa
Encyclopedia
South Africa
’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the intermediary agency between the policies and strategies of the Government of South Africa
and South Africa's research institutions.
It was established on 1 April 1999 as an autonomous statutory body in accordance with the National Research Foundation Act. Dr. Albert van Jaarsveld serves as the Acting President and CEO of the NRF. The NRF Board is chaired by Professor Belinda Bozzolli.
One of the NRF’s key objectives is to ensure appropriately qualified people and high-level infrastructure
to produce the knowledge that makes South Africa a global competitor. Its "focus areas" are:
Unlike other Science Councils whose role is research
performance, the NRF primarily fulfils an agency role, with a smaller portion of its activity allocated to actual research. Funding from the NRF is largely directed towards academic research, developing high-level human resources, and supporting the National Research Facilities, although beneficiaries include students, and private individuals or companies.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the intermediary agency between the policies and strategies of the Government of South Africa
Government of South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a nearly unique system that combines aspects of parliamentary and presidential systems. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa...
and South Africa's research institutions.
It was established on 1 April 1999 as an autonomous statutory body in accordance with the National Research Foundation Act. Dr. Albert van Jaarsveld serves as the Acting President and CEO of the NRF. The NRF Board is chaired by Professor Belinda Bozzolli.
Functions
The NRF has three main functions:- to support research and innovation, through its agency, Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA);
- to encourage an interest in science and technology through its business unit, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA);
- to facilitate high-end research through its National Research Facilities (South African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversitySouth African Institute for Aquatic BiodiversityThe South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity , is involved in research, education and in applications of its knowledge and research to African fish fauna, for either economic or conservation benefit...
; Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy ObservatoryHartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy ObservatoryThe Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory is a radio astronomy observatory located in a natural bowl of hills at Hartebeesthoek just south of the Magaliesberg mountain range, Gauteng, South Africa, about 50 km west of Johannesburg...
; iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences; South African Astronomical ObservatorySouth African Astronomical ObservatorySouth African Astronomical Observatory is the national center for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa. It was established in 1972. The observatory is run by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The facility's function is to conduct research in astronomy and astrophysics...
; Hermanus Magnetic ObservatoryHermanus Magnetic ObservatorySANSA Space Science, previously the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory is South Africa's national geomagnetic research facility. The observatory is situated in the town of Hermanus in the Western Cape Province and forms part of the South African National Space Agency.The observatory is an active...
; National Zoological Gardens of South AfricaNational Zoological Gardens of South AfricaThe National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is the national zoo of South Africa. It is situated in the city of Pretoria and was founded by J. W. B...
)
One of the NRF’s key objectives is to ensure appropriately qualified people and high-level infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
to produce the knowledge that makes South Africa a global competitor. Its "focus areas" are:
- Research and Innovation Support
- Astro/Space/Geo Sciences
- BiodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
/ ConservationConservation biologyConservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction... - Nuclear SciencesAtomic nucleusThe nucleus is the very dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom. It was discovered in 1911, as a result of Ernest Rutherford's interpretation of the famous 1909 Rutherford experiment performed by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, under the direction of Rutherford. The...
- Advancing Science
Unlike other Science Councils whose role is research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
performance, the NRF primarily fulfils an agency role, with a smaller portion of its activity allocated to actual research. Funding from the NRF is largely directed towards academic research, developing high-level human resources, and supporting the National Research Facilities, although beneficiaries include students, and private individuals or companies.
See also
- Department of Science and Technology (South Africa)
- Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchCouncil for Scientific and Industrial ResearchThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is South Africa's central and premier scientific research and development organisation. It was established by an act of parliament in 1945 and is situated on its own campus in the city of Pretoria...
- Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa primarily conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific projects for public-sector users, non governmental organisations and international development agencies in support of development nationally, in the Southern African Development...