Pretoria: Despite economic challenges, South Africa maintained its research activity relative to economic growth, with universities taking the lead and foreign partners deepening their support in 2023/24.
According to South African Government News Agency, the latest South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R and D Survey) reveals that nominal Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) was R43.413 billion. In 2015 prices, this represents a modest year-on-year increase of 1.3% to R28.621 billion in 2023/24. By contrast, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth stood at just 0.8% over the same period.
Dr Nazeem Mustapha, HSRC Research Director and the R and D Survey's principal investigator, commented on the inflation-adjusted R and D growth, indicating it is below nominal increases. With a flat R and D/GDP ratio of 0.62%, South Africa's innovation investment is just keeping pace with economic expansion.
The higher education sector showed the strongest growth in R and D expenditure in 2023/24, buoyed by strong growth in researchers. Mustapha noted that universities in South Africa are producing world-class science while building the skills pipeline for the future. Government remained the single largest overall funder of R and D, providing R21.847 billion in nominal terms, accounting for 50.3% of total expenditure. Business enterprises contributed R12.033 billion (27.7%) in R and D funding, while foreign sources reached R8.106 billion (18.7%).
The business sector continued to channel most of its R and D spend into financial and business services, which accounted for nearly half (45.8%) of all business R and D spending. Manufacturing remained the second-largest contributor at 29.9% of business expenditure on R and D, led by industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber, and plastics. Mining and quarrying placed third, with 10.5%.
Applied research dominated across research activity categories, representing 49.5% of all R and D expenditure. Businesses were the biggest spenders on applied research, investing R9.059 billion. Higher education led in basic research, contributing R8.278 billion-around two-thirds of the national total. Gauteng reinforced its position as the country's R and D hub, with 40.2% of expenditure (R17.446 billion). The Western Cape expanded to a 10-year high of 27.9% (R12.100 billion), followed by KwaZulu-Natal contributing 10.0% to R and D activity nationwide.
The research field that South Africa focuses on mainly is the medical and health sciences, with R10.578 billion worth of R and D expenditure in 2023/24. The R and D expenditure on social sciences was R6.855 billion. Engineering sciences grew strongly to R5.760 billion, overtaking information and communication technology (ICT), which declined for a second consecutive year to R4.835 billion. Biotechnology rose to R3.650 billion, while nanotechnology slipped slightly to R1.342 billion.
The survey notes a gradual increase in the share of women researchers, rising from 47.6% to 47.7%. While progress is modest this year, it continues an upward trajectory in gender representation.