Thabo Mohlala
The eight Science Forum South Africa (SFSA 2023) took place from 6-8 December at the CSIR International Convention Centre, co-hosted by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA) initiative. The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, delivered the keynote address.
DSI’s director-general, Phil Mjwara, directed proceedings under the theme: “Igniting Conversations about Science – People, Partnerships, Priorities for the Decadal Plan.” The event brought together 4 516 scientists, policy makers, researchers and industry leaders. The programme was packed with 60 thought provoking and parallel sessions and saw 77 exhibits.
The Forum serves as a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge, fostering partnerships and inspiring the next wave of ground-breaking discoveries, exploration of new frontiers, challenging existing paradigms and collectively pushing the boundaries of human understanding.
In his welcome address, CSIR’s chief executive officer, Dr Thulani Dlamini, highlighted the importance of the Forum and appealed to participants to use the occasion to share perspectives and explore innovative solutions on how to address complex challenges facing the world today. “This gathering is a celebration of innovation, collaborations and boundless possibilities in the pursuit of a common goal by using science, technology and innovation as a force for good to create impact on humanity,” he said.
Dr Dlamini said the event took place against the backdrop of raging wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe with both having potentially devastating consequences for global peace and economic stability. He said one of the key lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is the need for preparedness and co-ordinated regional and global response. He applauded the international scientific community for working closely together ensuring science delivered critical solutions and providing data for life saving decisions at the time.
“We should look into how networking scientific minds can develop solutions to resolve a whole range of challenges bedevilling particularly Africa such as education, health, defence, energy, water and sanitation and logistics. The Forum should also foster and strengthen partnerships between research organisations, governments and private sector,” he said.
DSI’s Decadal Plan
In his address, Dr Nzimande said the SFSA objectives are aligned with the DSI’s Decadal Plan. He also announced the forthcoming presidential plenary scheduled for next week. He said since its inception in 2015, the Forum has always sought to achieve three main objectives, which still remain valid today. These are:
- to enable shared policy, through a series of debates on topical science policy challenges, learning for all participants, including providing a platform for civil society to contribute;
- to promote the excellence and capabilities of South African scientists and innovation to new domestic and international partners and
- to develop partnerships, by rekindling the old, cementing current ones and exploring new relationships.
Advancing Socio-economic Development
Expanding on the Decadal Plan, Dr Nzimande said the project was adopted by the cabinet at the end of 2022. “It is a plan for all who have the interests of South Africa (SA) at heart and a plan for all, inside and outside government, who can contribute through science, technology, and innovation to improve the quality of living of all South Africans.”
This plan has a dual focus; its first aim to ensure SA’s investment in science, technology and innovation delivers more decisive impacts in advancing socio-economic development in the country by responding to poverty, inequality and unemployment. The second is to look after the well-being of the SA science and innovation initiative, ensuring it continues to grow as well and being transformed to be more responsive to the needs of SA.
Certain sessions of the SFSA focused on critical areas including: building human capabilities in science, technology and Innovation, promotion of diverse career pathways for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, the promotion of human-centric competency development in an age of disruptive technology development, the role of innovation in shaping the industry of tomorrow and the role of science in enabling sustainable, inclusive development, economic and science diplomacy, as well as the advancement of the Pan-African science agenda and the African Diaspora of the African science agenda.
Presidential Plenary Meeting
Dr Nzimande told attendees that President Cyril Ramaphosa would hold next week’s first Presidential Plenary Meeting (PPM) on science, technology and innovation for strategic discussions focused on implementation of the Decadal Plan. He said salient points from the Forum would be reported at the PPM, making the SASF a preparatory conference for the presidential event.
