HSRC Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

1. HSRC Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology 18 March 2003

2. Context: National R&D Strategy • Doubling government investment in Science and Technology over the next 3 to 6 years • HSRC – a science council both reporting to and funded by DST • Ten science councils covered in Vote 18… • … articulated by the new R&D strategy, especially the five technology missions

3. 400000 350000 300000 250000 2002/03 200000 R '000 2003/04 150000 100000 50000 0 NRF MRC CGS CSIR ARC FEST AISA HSRC SABS MINTEK Average Summary of allocation toScience Councils2002/03 to 2003/04

4. The HSRC… • Amongst the group of small parliamentary grantees • At average level in recent growth of core Parliamentary grant • Above average performance in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? • Other DST funding for projects, e.g. HRD, R&D survey, possibly technology for poverty reduction

5. Financial overview: current situation and 2003/04 plan, in Rm R48m of the targeted R95m research earnings (R90m + R5m ring-fenced)for 2003/04 are already signed up

6. COUPE strategy Contracts Outreach Users Performance Excellence

7. Selected Key Performance Indicators End-2002/03 target % End-2001/02 performance % Jan. 2003 performance % End-2000/01 performance % Contracts & grants:research earnings as a proportion of total research income 21 31 53 42 Outreach:proportion of projects with external researcher participation 22 61 52 60 User-orientation:proportion of successful competitive submissions 24 32 32 34 Performance (equity):proportion of black researchers 40 45 47 54 Performance (efficiency):proportion of researchers in total staff 30 52 56 60 Excellence:proportion of researchers publishing a refereed journal article 23 25 50 50

8. HSRC research earningsMarch 2003 (rands)

9. WK Kellogg Foundation Ford Foundation Nelson Mandela Children’s fund DFID JET Wellcome Trust USAID, via RTI Swiss Development Co-operation Ford Foundation DST Largest 10 projects:contracted external income 2002/03, Rm

10. "Quality" of HSRC research earnings

11. External research spend per region

12. HSRC research programmes

13. Selected research impacts - 1 • ATEE:Increased and better targeted support to Maths and Science education in schools, following the release and dissemination of findings from the TIMSS project • CYFD:Policy uptake of empirical and indicator research into Social Development policy, e.g. on the extension of child care grants, family policy, disability • D&G:Election Task Team recommendations of viable election models drawing on HSRC-coordinated surveys and comparative studies • EEPR:Analysis of employment-related databases informing planning and priority-setting in several sector education and training authorities (SETAs)

14. Selected research impacts - 2 • EPR: Policy-relevant recommendations and advice to improve the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and new curriculum in schools • KM:Internationally prescribed survey of human and material resources available and required for research and development in South Africa • SAMM:The introduction of a geo-referenced master sample allowing repeat-visit surveys for monitoring and tracking policy impact, commencing with HIV/AIDS survey • SCI:Pioneering consideration of the import of the international Human Genome initiative for Africa, embracing ethical, legal and educational dimensions

15. Selected research impacts - 3 • SAHA:Path-breaking findings from the Nelson Mandela/HSRC study on HIV/AIDS presented to Cabinet Ministers, Departments, portfolio committees and the media • HRD:Study of factors affecting choices of Grade 12 learners regarding tertiary education signalled perceptions relevant to the national plan for higher education • IRRD:Research with key players in the cotton industry enabled the DoA to address this industry as first sub-sector under the new strategic plan for SA agriculture

16. Outreach and Collaboration • Science Councils • CSIR: R&D survey work, SATPOR, local governance capacity-building • MRC: HIV/AIDS surveys, health promotion • MINTEK: Resource-based technology clusters • ARC: Land and food security • International and EU • SAHARA, UNESCO, WHO, Paris21 etc. partnerships • US networks to support NIH, NIDA-funded research • NEPAD • Regional projects, e.g. HIV/AIDS, assessment • Research for African peer-review process • COHORT integrated Development Strategy • Tertiary collaborations on majority of SA projects

17. Portfolio Committee query What strategically important projects would the HSRC undertake if more Parliamentary grant were available?

18. Areas for additional financial support • Three examples • Research support for national HRD strategy • Poverty reduction mission in R&D strategy • Social aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Common features: • Responsive to national development priorities and DST R&D strategy • Extensive collaboration and interaction with peers, stakeholders and users • Additional funds and capacity leveraged on basis of parliamentary funding

19. Areas for additional financial support 1. Research support for national HRD strategy • Three-year ring-fenced allocation from DST with potential long-term benefits (ends March 2004?) • Biennial analysis of HRD developments • twenty chapters spanning issues in education, labour, technology, industry • will be launched mid-2003 to serve as baseline for future monitoring at 2-yearly intervals • Cross-sectoral data warehouse • adds value to management information systems of Depts. of Education and Labour and StatsSA • a wide array of information made accessible in the public domain • Continued R5 m p.a. will ensure sustainability

20. Areas for additional financial support 2. Support for the poverty reduction mission • SATPOR (Science and Technology for Poverty Reduction) responds to poverty reduction mission in R&D strategy • Collaboration between DST, Science Councils and Higher Ed. Representatives • Main planning areas: Develop knowledge, Knowledge management and innovation, Extract knowledge, Process excellence • R 2 m envisaged from earmarked DST funding for the one HSRC planning area

21. Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Pioneering national sample survey of HIV prevalence, risky behaviours and campaign awareness • Repeat visits to households in eighteen months using master sample • Findings presented to Cabinet Ministers, government departments a portfolio committee and the media. Government committed to using the results to improve planning: “The results of the survey by the HSRC and Nelson Mandela Foundation give cause for hope as well as reason to intensify action to combat HIV/AIDS through implementation of our comprehensive programme... Government media release, 5 December 2002

22. Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Dedicated research programme with cross-cutting issues addressed in other HSRC programmes • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission • Discourse patterns on HIV/AIDS and death • Risky adolescent behaviour and appropriate community interventions • Employment sector studies and forecasting • HIV/AIDS and land utilisation, food production and consumption • Child indicator system to monitor children’s health development and well-being as well as relevant policies

23. Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • SAHARA ( Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance) acknowledged as network of excellence in national R&D strategy • Leveraging funding: Kellogg grant to support researched-based interventions benefiting orphans and vulnerable children in three countries • Soon after startup, impact of pioneering studies already evident • Additional funding will ensure scale, integration, collaboration and dissemination of research as demanded by the epidemic

24. And now, the future… • Structured research-support relationships with strategic users e.g. Presidency, Treasury, Umsobomvu, Social Development • Further linkage of projects into programmes for enhanced impact, on pattern of SAHARA, HRD • Make research findings more accessible – different languages, modes and media • Expanding support for collaboration in Africa on NEPAD projects, e.g. GARDS project in COHORT • Innovative Professional development, e.g. 10% of each researcher’s time earmarked for publications

25. And now, the future… • Expansion of internship programmes, staff growth linked to equity targets • Enterprise-wide information management system • Roll-out new uniform terms and conditions of employment, programme for HIV/AIDS in the workplace • Forthcoming institutional review, appointment of new Council and possible new legislation