CONFERENCE DECLARATION: HUMAN RESOURCES FOR KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION CAPE TOWN, 23 - 24 JUNE 2005

The Minister of Education and the Minister of Science and Technology convened a conference to deliberate on the human resource capacities for new knowledge production in support of the National System of Innovation, and to identify practical interventions to overcome the shortage of critical skills for R&D and knowledge production in South Africa. Delegates to the conference included leading academics, business, science council and government representatives. The Conference noted:

the gains made by the South African government in steering the Science System in the first ten years of democracy and the successes in stabilising and protecting existing capacity;

• the improvements in student enrolments, representivity and the impact of new funding programmes, while remaining mindful of the transformation imperatives that must inform the growth and development of the National System of Innovation;

• with appreciation the recent reconfiguration of the governance model for Science and Technology approved by Cabinet, as well as the need for the Departments of Science and Technology and Education to ensure a coordinated and planned approach to the further development of the National System of Innovation;

• the improvements in the overall investment in R&D, particularly in the last few years, from 0.76% of GDP, to the current 0.81%, recognising however the need to achieve the target of 1% by 2008;

• with concern, that despite these successes, we have not generated new researchers in sufficient numbers to achieve the economic and social outcomes that are possible only through investment in science and technology;

• that this has resulted in an inflexibility in the National System of Innovation, making it difficult for South Africa to enter new and important global arenas of innovation;

• that the future viability and success of the National System of Innovation is dependent on the capacity of the schooling and FET systems to provide quality inputs into the higher education system; and

• furthermore, that quality improvements in undergraduate education are needed to enhance postgraduate growth and development.

The Conference further noted that within this context, South Africa has not been able to play its full role in contributing to economic and social development through new knowledge production in the national, continental and international settings.

The Conference therefore declared that there is an urgent need for a well-resourced plan of action to increase high level skills for research and development through: increasing the number of researchers; improving institutional capacity and providing an enabling environment and appropriate infrastructure for R&D to achieve focus on frontier science and technology, new knowledge production and innovation, resulting in the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans.

To give effect to the above, the Conference proposed the following plan of action.

Plan of Action: Human resources for knowledge production conference

In the light of the consensus achieved and recorded in the conference declaration the delegates have formulated a plan of action to address the challenges and opportunities identified.

The plan follows the outline of areas discussed in the working groups and is complemented by the more detailed conference report:

1. Education Training and Employment

In meeting the goal of 1% of GDP expenditure on R&D by 2008, the focus should be on the recruitment and retention of research masters, doctoral and post- doctoral fellows to create a more flexible and responsive workforce able to achieve mastery of new domains of technology. This new resource will require strong and motivated academic research workforce, able to achieve larger research groups and global leadership in key domains.

This will be facilitated by improved incentives for research intensive careers, good research facilities and performance related remuneration and measures to enhance the capacity of institutions to manage research and post-graduate training for maximum value.

Promote the collaboration and the development of partnerships between universities, and between higher education, science councils and industry, to maximize overall institutional research development capabilities to achieve a critical mass of researchers across institutions and to support the national R&D agenda. This collaboration will take account of institutional focus in niche areas of strength and capability.

2. Knowledge Production for the SA Economy

Ensure that knowledge production is optimized by focused attention to more strategic development of PhD graduates including the optimizing, funding and managing of the environment in which students operate, such as explicit development of research skills, development of better supervisor support and more appropriate funding for full-time students.

This drive will be strengthened by "re-imagining the PhD" by for example, completion by publication and synthesis in contrast to the traditional thesis approach.

Establish larger groups focusing on more relevant research questions and themes that are linked to a high potential for future employment and long-term research career planning. Ensure the maximum participation of productive academics by providing new and additional mechanisms, such as research chairs, specialized units and centers of excellence.

Ensure that the research environment incentivises both publication of a high standard in recognized journals as well as the protection of intellectual property arising from publicly financed research to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship.

3. Improving Public Research Infrastructure

Ensure that prioritisation of R&D is informed by national goals and imperatives. Planning over the span of the budget framework will take into account key infrastructure needs and the associated human capital investment plans. This will be achieved through, for example, the ring-fencing of the allocation of funds for the strengthening of the research equipment base. The increase of R&D to 1% of GDP should focus on increasing the number of productive young researchers, increasing PhD production, increasing the focus and size of research groups and the development of academic careers in well-found laboratories and national research facilities.

4. Enhancing Research Funding

Ensure that a more productive and economically effective workforce is achieved by quality investment in R&D. Ensure that public investment in focused areas leads to the attraction of high quality foreign direct investment and research being relocated to the country resulting in the development of more effective interfaces between private and public research.

Develop novel means, such as giving attention to the structure of BEE and government procurement systems to leverage research and innovation. Further development of international financing and selected public private partnerships should remain a priority.

5. S&T and the African Experience

Secure the most rapid and sustainable development of the continent and the improvement of the quality of life of its people through political leadership at the highest level in order to prioritise the mainstreaming of science and technology through the AU, NEPAD and multilateral programmes.

South Africa will develop a vanguard role in African science and technology including the development of specialised funding instruments that facilitate partnerships with African institutions and researchers.

Existing universities, public research institutes and Academies will prioritise cooperation and networks for human resource development, making effective use of current initiatives to strengthen science in Africa, including the G8 deliberations and the Commission for Africa.

6. Globalisation of Research

Establish carefully planned and concerted measures to ensure a net inward flow of high- quality researchers ("sticky mobility"). This will include a major open post-doctoral fellowship scheme, "sandwiched" doctoral bursaries, and active "hubs" to provide competitive local research opportunities, including centres of excellence as the primary gateways for international collaboration and partnership.

Establish an urgent and appropriately resourced programme to enhance e-Research resources for all South African researchers, especially open access to the current high- impact literature.

Adopted by the delegates to the conference on 24'" June, 2005