Minister Blade Nzimande release the Ministerial Working Group report on Science, Technology and Innovation funding for public comment, 29 Sep
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, will release the highly anticipated Report of the Ministerial Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Funding on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
The release of the report follows the establishment of the Ministerial Working Group by the Minister to assess and make recommendations on the impact of the withdrawal of external research and development funding by the United States of America from major South African collaborative biomedical, health, and clinical trial programmes—particularly those focused on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
The core mandate of the Working Group was to:
- Assess the immediate and long-term impact of terminated United States funding on South Africa’s National System of Innovation;
- Identify systemic risks created by external funding dependencies;
- Advise on strategies to strengthen domestic public and private sector investment in research and innovation; and
- Support South Africa’s broader ambition to raise research and development expenditure from approximately 0.6% of GDP towards the national target of 1.5%.
The establishment of this Working Group forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to strengthen the resourcing, coordination, long-term sustainability and sovereignty of South Africa’s public science system.
The media briefing will provide journalists with an opportunity to engage the Minister on the findings and recommendations of the report. The media briefing will be preceded by an official briefing to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation on the recommendations of the Report at 9:00 am.
Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Venue: Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Frances Baard Street, Hatfield, Pretoria
Enquiries:
Mr Veli Mbele, Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson to the Minister,
Cell: 064 615 0644,
Email: Veli.Mbele@dsti.gov.za
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