South Africa – Norway Programme on Research Co-operation Overview of project outcomes Prepared by the Programme Secretariat For the Cape Town Workshop March, 2005

Historical Background Assistance to higher education for SA exiles 1990s: NUFU programme 2000: SANTED 2001: Business Plan Norad – DACST/DOE - NOK 30 million - ZAR 5 million Feb. 2002: First Call for proposals May 2002: Sci. & tech. co-operation agreement Feb. 2004: Minister Clemet’s visit to SA

Objectives of the programme Goal: Establish the basis for long-term research co-operation between SA and Norway Purpose: Broaden and strengthen research co- operation between the two countries through joint mechanisms for supporting co-operation The programme is based on the principle of equal partnerships and focuses on the promotion of research excellence & quality

Main intended beneficiaries Higher education and research institutions, researchers and staff in both countries Young researchers from historically disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa Young women researchers

8 prioritised areas of co-operation Health and medical sciences; HIV/AIDS; Information and communication technology; Aquatic research; Environment, ecology and energy; Governance, Democratisation and social development in the South, including peace and conflict studies; Economic growth and globalisation, including their socio-political impacts; and Education BUT, projects within other research areas or disciplines also accepted - if of high quality.

Management and Governance Annual Meeting highest decision-making level Joint Committee co-ordinates the programme Assisted by a Scientific Committee in each country RCN the implementing agency in Norway NFR the implementing agency in South Africa Secretariat made up by staff from RCN & NRF

Review of experiences Overwhelming response from researchers Most proposals within priority areas – broad 40% within two areas: H & M; E,E,E Consistent with findings from NIFU-STEP study Strict financial limits Problems due to strengthening of ZAR Widespread of beneficiaries in SA and Nor One trad. disadvantaged inst. did very well

Breakdown of applications & grants Priority AreaProposalsApproved Health & med. sciences238 HIV/AIDS122 ICT104 Aquatic resources123 Environment, ecology, energy328 Gov., dem., soc. development157 Econ. growth & globalisation92 Education112 Other53 Total12939

Institutional distribution of projects - SA Institution# of projects U. of the Western Cape8 U. of Kwa-Zulu Natal8 U. of Cape Town7 U. of Witwatersrand6 U. of Pretoria3 U. of the Orange Free State2 U. of Stellenbosch2 U. of Johannesburg1 SA Institute for Applied Biodiversity1 Human Sciences Research Council1

Institutional distribution of projects - Nor Institution# of projects University of Oslo12 University of Bergen7 University of Tromsø4 Norwegian University of Science and Technology3 Norwegian University of Life Sciences3 Chr. Michelsen Institute1 Norwegian Forestry Research Institute1 Norwegian Institute for natural Resources1 Norwegian Institute of Veterinnary Science1 Norwegian institute for Urban and Regional Research1 Oslo University College1 St. Olav’s University Hospital1 Center for Int. Climate and Environmental Research1 Institute for Marine Research1 Norw. School of Economics and Business Adm.1

Project outcomes Adherence to project ocjectives Large number of papers Large number of exchanges between researchers Good capacity building and redress measures Several higher degrees submitted Stimulated increased international co- operation

Scientific outputs – summarised (probably underreported) Books/ chapters Peer rev. articles Conference present. Other 1st call 5, 1 in prog w.shops 1 monogr. 1 photo. ex. 2nd call 1 in prog.7, 10 in print 8, 7 in prog. 1 film 3 w.shops 2 w. shops in prog.

Conclusions and suggestions for future A successful programme so far Basis for long-term research established Lasting research relations have been forged Suggestions for the future Research excellence & quality should be maintained Possibly reduce number of priority research areas… …but not to adopt a policy of exclusion Capacity building should continue Issue of redress to be reinforced Encourge multidisciplinarity