NRF Annual Report 2018

PART B: PERFORMANCE
The National Research Facilities, declared by the Minister
of Science and Technology in accordance with the NRF
Act, provide a critical mass of equipment, cutting-edge
platforms, unique technologies and researchers to support
domain-specific research, HCD and science engagement.
The main criteria for the establishment of National
Research Facilities are:
• A unique position in the South African knowledge
production;
• Offer core technologies, research methodology or data
pools/collections that live up to international standards;
• Goals, well aligned with the objectives of the NSI,
especially diffusion of new knowledge;
• A critical mass of equipment, skills and users;
• Potential for networking and for attracting international
collaborators to South Africa;
• Provide opportunities human resource development
with special efforts to involve researchers from formerly
disadvantaged communities; and
• Provide opportunities for the interface between science
and society (refer to Programme 2 for details).
The National Research Facilities support the NRDS by
exploiting geographic and knowledge advantage areas
that are unique to southern Africa. They provide unique
and cutting-edge research platforms; support research
of strategic importance; provide access to ‘big science’
infrastructure to national and international researchers;
and contribute to the NRF strategic goal of growing a
representative research workforce through focussed HCD
initiatives. National Research Facilities allow South Africa
to compete and cooperate effectively with international
counterparts in the selected strategic research areas.
NF education and training mandates enrich and empower
individuals to function as productive knowledge workers.
The NRF currently manages facilities in:
• Nuclear science;
• Biodiversity and environmental sciences; and
• Astronomy and geosciences.
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NRF Annual Report 2017/18