1 Dr Steve Lennon 2008/09 27 May 2008 NACI Corporate Business Plan 2008/09 Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee: Science and Technology

2 Outline NACI in context Key deliverables Work programme for 2008/09 Resources

3 NACI in context The National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) is a statutory Council that advises the Minister of Science and Technology on a various issues pertaining to the National System of Innovation (NSI) –NACI Act (Act 55 of 1997) Issues that are advice are provided on –Requests and inputs from the Minister –Selected by NACI

4 Current NACI Council Chairperson and members appointed by Minister Four year term Current Council appointed in April 2004 –Term expired in February 2008 –Appointment of new Chair and Councillors - took office in March 2008

5 NACI’s standing committees Indicators Reference Group (IRG) Science and Technology for Women (SET4W) –Term appointments –New committee appointed March 2007 National Biotechnology Advisory Committee –Established November 2006

6 Key deliverables 2008/09 1.OECD review – way forward 2.Benefits of publicly funded R&D 3.Dynamics of innovation and competitiveness in the South African large, medium and small Business 4.South African system of science advice to government 5.S&T Policy Interactions with African countries 6.Attraction and retention of women in the NSI 7.Funding and public understanding pertaining to the biotechnology sector 8.Framework for a ST&I indicator system 9.Energy situation 10.Corporate activities – (business plan, annual report, external review)

7 Work programme for 2008/09 Work-in-progress –NSI peer review which lead to OECD report and two high level recommendations based on more than 50 recommendations by the OECD Pursue the formulation of National Innovation Strategy Initiate action to ensure that key issues identified are addressed –Tracking R&D expenditure, will culminate in a Cabinet Memo –Dynamics of the competitiveness, advice to the Minister

8 New Initiatives –State of the S&T policy interactions in Africa Multilateral, bilateral agreements Policy requirements and implications –Recommendations regarding a national system for providing science advice to government Work programme for 2008/09

9 Quick Advice National Electricity supply problem Risk faced by the NSI Management of risks

10 Work programme - IRG 2008/09: Development of a framework for the STI indicator system based on the findings of the position paper. Longer term: Development of a South African Innovation Index. Detailed analysis of the SA indicators data. Report presenting the findings of a detailed analysis

11 Work programme - SET4W Women in Industrial SET: An assessment of the participation of women in industrial SET in South Africa. Changing Perceptions of Women in SET Facing the Facts: An Updated Publication to An Overview Study: Summaries of all completed SET4W projects

12 Work programme - NBAC The impact of the South African public understanding of biotechnology The funding environment of South African biotechnology Biotechnology capacity: comparative case studies

13 Work programme - Corporate Corporate Business Plan Annual Report External Review (April 2008) –Panel (foreign and local members) will base assessment on: NACI’s documents Interviews with key stakeholders

14 Annual report 2007/08 – Advice Delivered Five advices delivered 1.Infrastructure to Attain the Vision of the NSI: Secondary School Education Component 2.Role of Regional and Local Innovation Systems in the NSI 3.Human Capital and the South African Knowledge Base.

15 Annual report 2007/08 – Advice Delivered 4.Assessing effectiveness of R&D tax credits - Ministerial advice on instruments put in place to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the R&D tax credits 5.Appropriate Human Resources for a Productive NSI. Study completed in Advice memorandum presented to the DG on learning experience

16 Resources: Budget ItemR’000 Advice Development4,642 Projects (including SET4W, IRG and other)3,400 Other expenditure related to advice development1,242 Institutional4,371 Compensation of employees3,915 Secretariat operational expenses414 Capital assets42 Council474 Total9,487 Transfer from DST for NBAC1,200 Total (including transfer)10,687

17 Resources: Secretariat Acting Head: NACI Secretariat –Dr Hermi Boraine –Mr Simon Mpele Need to strengthen the Secretariat with regard to policy analysis

18 Thank You