Thomas Auf der Heyde, deputy director-general for research development and support at the Department of Science and Technology, provides a preview of a study at CREST that puts the spotlight on the state of basic sciences in South Africa. The report will inform future policy for supporting the basic sciences in South Africa.
The basic sciences are the building blocks for applied science and technology — and training schools for the PhD-level researchers required for a knowledge-intense, innovation-driven economy. In recent years the Department of Science and Technology has invested significantly in a wide range of technology development initiatives, including biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, battery technologies and nanotechnology.
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