National Research Foundation of South Africa

South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the intermediary agency between the policies and strategies of the Government of South Africa and South Africa’s research institutions.

It was established on 1 April 1999 as an autonomous statutory body in accordance with the National Research Foundation Act. Dr Molapo Qhobela has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation of South Africa with effect from 1 January 2016. The NRF Board is chaired by Professor Belinda Bozzolli.

The NRF has three main functions:

• to support research and innovation, through its agency, Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA);
• to encourage an interest in science and technology through its business unit, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA);
• to facilitate high-end research through its National Research Facilities (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity; Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory; iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences; South African Astronomical Observatory; Hermanus Magnetic Observatory; National Zoological Gardens of South Africa)

One of the NRF’s key objectives is to ensure appropriately qualified people and high-level infrastructure to produce the knowledge that makes South Africa a global competitor. Its “focus areas” are:

• Research and Innovation Support
• Astro/Space/Geo Sciences
• Biodiversity / Conservation
• Nuclear Sciences
• Advancing Science

Unlike other Science Councils whose role is research performance, the NRF primarily fulfils an agency role, with a smaller portion of its activity allocated to actual research. Funding from the NRF is largely directed towards academic research, developing high-level human resources, and supporting the National Research Facilities, although beneficiaries include students, and private individuals or companies. KZN Literary Tourism is a project which has received funding through the NRF.