Kuala lumpur: An agreement to enhance collaboration in research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in science, technology, and innovation (STI) to promote sustainable development has been signed. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC), in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).
According to South African Government News Agency, this move marks a significant milestone in South-South cooperation. UNESCO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, aims to promote peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. ISTIC serves as a leading international platform offering sustainable programmes and services aimed at producing holistic talents towards institutional excellence and augmenting sustainable development for South-South Cooperation.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Nare Prudence Makhura, the Executive Director of International Grants and Partnerships at the NRF, during a high-level ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. The event was attended by senior officials, researchers, and partners from both countries.
The strategic partnership aims to facilitate collaborative research, enhance capacity-building for early- and mid-career researchers in the Global South, and promote the exchange of knowledge, scientific expertise, and innovation. Areas of focus include water, health, climate change, artificial intelligence, and other fields aligned with national and global priorities.
Director of ISTIC, Tengku Sharizad Tengku Dahlan, highlighted that the partnership reaffirms a shared commitment to advancing inclusive and sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation. ‘Together, ISTIC and NRF will create opportunities for co-creation, knowledge exchange, and impactful joint initiatives across the Global South,’ Tengku Sharizad Tengku Dahlan stated.
Michael Nxumalo, NRF’s Director of International Grants and Partnerships, expressed that through this MoU, the organisation aims to encourage not only research collaboration but also stronger connections between institutions and scientific communities. ‘We look forward to nurturing a robust ecosystem of innovation and excellence,’ Nxumalo added.
The agreement includes provisions for joint calls for research proposals, workshops, symposia, and the joint development of knowledge products. Additionally, it sets the stage for future project-specific agreements and the joint mobilisation of resources to support priority initiatives.
The leaders emphasized that the ISTIC-NRF MoU reinforces the importance of international cooperation in addressing complex global challenges and demonstrates how institutions from the Global South can lead in shaping a more equitable and knowledge-driven future.