UK Science & Innovation Network in South Africa
Science and innovation are at the heart of government strategy for promoting prosperity and growth. Research and knowledge is increasingly developed and transferred through international collaboration which provides opportunities to work with the best in the world, exchange students and researchers, and gain access to large scale international facilities; leading to mutual benefits for the UK and South Africa. The UK-South Africa Newton Fund is our flagship joint partnership with South Africa to deliver much of this work, working to promote economic development and social welfare through research and innovation.
For an introductory brief which covers the local Science and Innovation landscape, UK priorities and successes in South Africa, read the UK Science and Innovation Network Country Snapshot.
South Africa: Science and Innovation country background
The UK’s S&I footprint in South Africa is considerable and growing. We have a formal bilateral Science and Technology Agreement (since 1995) and a rich array of partnerships between our academics and researchers, both at individual and institution level. SA is the fifth most successful country in accessing EU Framework Programme (FP7) research funding, partnering in these with the UK more than any other country. The UK and SA have agreed that shared S&I priority focus areas are health research; astronomy and space; biosciences; and climate change. We accept targeted bids for projects directly relating to these priority areas, please contact us if you would like more information.
Newton Fund
The Newton Fund is a £735 million fund which, through science and innovation partnerships, promotes the economic development and welfare of poor people in partnering countries. It aims to strengthen science and innovation capacity and unlock further funding to support poverty alleviation. It is delivered through 15 UK delivery partners in collaboration with 15 partner countries. Activities are in three broad areas:
People: increasing capacity for science and innovation in partner countries. Research: research collaborations on development topics. Translation: creating collaborative solutions to development challenges and strengthening innovation systems.
In September 2014 the UK and South Africa formally launched the UK-SA Newton Fund. The UK as committed £40 million to the UK-SA programme until 2021, which is match funded by our South African partners.
The UK-SA programme focuses on research calls, workshops, fellowships, and mobility schemes around the thematic areas of science and technology capacity building, public health, environment and food security, with the ultimate aim of encouraging research that increases jobs and economic growth.
On the UK side, the Newton Fund is administered by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. On the South African side, the Department of Science and Technology is the lead agency.
UK-SA Newton Fund programme activities are managed by a core group of UK and South African Delivery Partners. They allocate all funding through competitive bidding processes which will be open to all interested parties and assessed against set criteria.
Calls for applications will be opened at different times according to the programme area. Opportunities will be advertised through Delivery Partners, and via the Newton Fund webpage.
For more information visit the: Newton Fund website and follow us on Twitter: @NewtonFund
South Africa Newton Fund contact details
Please contact us if you wish to be added to our mailing list and receive South Africa Newton Fund updates by email.
Victoria Bungane British High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. Tel: +27 12 421 7786
Beyond our main bilateral S&I programme the UK/South Africa Newton Fund, a range of UK government departments work with SA to further science and innovation collaboration. While this is primarily through the UK Science and Innovation Network presence in Pretoria and Cape Town, the Department for International Development’s Research and Evidence Division funds a range of shared multi-million pound research projects including South and Southern Africa. With UK Trade and Investment, we work to harness international technology partnerships and investment to grow UK innovation capability. And the British Council funds a range of relevant science and education-focused activities, such as researcher mobility schemes.
If you have any queries, questions or ideas, please feel free to contact us.
Contact us:
You can email us or get hold of our team directly using their details below.
John Wade-Smith British High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. Tel: +27 12 421 7573
Xolelwa Zulu British High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. Tel: +27 12 421 7209
Amelia Marutle British High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. Tel: +27 421 7775
Victoria Bungane British High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. Tel: +27 12 421 7786