pre-feasibility assessment report - Innovationeasterncape.co.za

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African Development Economic ConsultantsADECOverall StrengthsThe previous section established the overall science R&D and innovationbase within the Nelson Mandela Bay region. Key concentrations were identified,some of which relate directly to the region’s economic base such as automotiverelatedprocess engineering and product testing. The primary concentrationsincluded the following:• Renewable energy• Indigenous flora and fauna products• Low-tech chemical derivatives• Manufacturing process engineering (targeting automotive)• Resource recovery• Materials science and nano-technology• Communications technology• Product testing and standards• SMME business developmentThe analysis in this section examined the area’s competitive R&Dstrengths more explicitly in a comparative context. Based on this analysis, itwould appear that the area has particularly unique strengths in materialsscience and (potentially) nanotechnology that benefit a diverse set of industries.The area retains a strong focus in manufacturing process engineering andpresents opportunities for product testing. The region may also have emergingstrengths and opportunities in mechatronics and renewable energy sciencesdue to a concentration of academic and corporate research in these areas. Ofcourse, this is not to suggest that the other research activities do not presentopportunities but only that the research endeavors in the aforementioneddisciplines are more often recognized as somewhat unique at a national (andsometimes international) level.103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 44
African Development Economic ConsultantsADECSection 4.RESEARCH FUNDINGSection 4 includes an assessment of the sources, types, scale, and trendsof funding for science research and development (R&D) activities. Particularfocus is given to the research funding base for Nelson Mandela MetropolitanUniversity (NMMU), which is a key research anchor for the Port Elizabethregion. Such funding is then benchmarked against trends at the national leveland within other countries such as the United States. The assessment ofNMMU research funding included an analysis of the sources, targetedprogrammes, and key researchers.The programmes and research projects prioritized for funding at thenational and international levels were also assessed with respect to thecompetitive strengths and target industries of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB)region. Aligning R&D funding with NMB’s competitive strengths is a vitalcomponent for determining the potential of a Science Park in Port Elizabeth.Sources of Research Funding at NMMUResearch funding at NMMU is determined by nature of the programmesand the extent of involvement by external funders. NMMU has several uniqueprogrammes that have attracted substantial external funding. For example,NMMU was selected ahead of other South African universities to house theR178 million High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM)Centre by the National Department of Science and Technology (DST) andcorporate sponsors. The Centre will serve all academic and industrialresearchers from South Africa and the Sub-Saharan region. Key sources offunding for research activities at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Universityinclude the University Research Council (URC), National Research Foundation(NRF) and other state organizations, plus private companies, internationaldonors, and direct revenue from contract research assignments.National Research Foundation (NRF)The Government’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the largestexternal funder for research activities at the NMMU. NRF alone accounted for80.7% of the total funding from external sources and 51.2% of all fundingtowards research activities at NMMU in 2008 (see tables, below). Total NRFresearch funding for NMMU increased from R18.9 million in 2006 to R34.9million in 2008 (growth of 84%). Whilst this growth is impressive, total NRFdisbursements to all South African research organizations increased fromR369.4 million to R787.0 million, a gain of 113%, during the same period. Thus,NMMU’s funding increased but its share of total NRF funding fell from 5.1% in2006 to 4.4% in 2008. The grant linked to the HRTEM Centre project alonewould account for at least 14% of the 2008 NRF budget to NMMU.The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP)provides funds to all South African universities including NMMU. THRIP (aninitiative of the Department of Trade and Industry) brings researchers from103 Algernon Road, Norwood (Johannesburg). Tel (011)728-1965 / 6690 Fax (011)728-8371Adec@ADEC1.com. Suite 131, Private Bag X5, Norwood 2117 SOUTH AFRICA 45
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