SARChI expands with 41 new posts to strengthen research across universities

What began in 2006 as a bold effort to reverse brain drain and build research excellence has evolved into one of South Africa's most influential research programmes.

Aimed at expanding and strengthening research and innovation capacity across all public universities, the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) reached a new milestone by launching 41 additional research chairs – mostly at historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs), universities of technology (UoTs) and emerging universities.

SARChI was established by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities by establishing research chairs with a long-term investment trajectory of up to 15 years.

Speaking at the official launch at the NRF in Pretoria on 16 April 2026, Minister Blade Nzimande described the moment as profoundly historic, saying it was "a moment that holds immeasurable significance for our Department's strategic goal of ensuring that we build a transformed and socially responsive national system of innovation".

The launch of 41 new chairs, said Prof. Nzimande, marked a deliberate effort to expand research capacity at HDIs, UoTs and emerging institutions, such as Sol Plaatje University, which was awarded a research chair for the first time in its history.

With 331 chairs awarded to date (and more than 200 currently operational), these posts have played an important role in improving PhD production by helping the country reach a point where 52,5% of permanent academic staff now hold doctorates.

The launch comes soon after the National Advisory Council on Innovation released the 2025 Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Indicators Report in March 2026, which highlights progress such as increased representation of women and Black South African academics. The report also notes that the country's gross expenditure on research and development as a percentage of GDP has dropped to 0,61% (from 0,67% before Covid-19), which is far from the national target of 1,5% by 2030.

"This decline is largely driven by a reduction in business sector investment and threatens our global competitiveness and our ability to industrialise," said the Minister.

Prof. Nzimande emphasised that the new research chairs are expected to help develop coherent responses to the challenges identified in the STI Indicators Report. To achieve this, the chairs are deliberately aligned with the priority areas of the Decadal Plan for STI 2022-2032 and societal grand challenges across diverse and interdisciplinary domains.

These include health and biomedical sciences; energy transition and green technologies; water security and environmental sustainability; education, skills development and the future of work; digital technologies; artificial intelligence and ICT for development; agriculture, nutrition and food security; and climate change, circular economy and biodiversity conservation. The SARChI categories also focus on broader fields of research, including natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, health, humanities and some interdisciplinary areas.

Dr Gugu Moche, the NRF Deputy CEO for Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement, outlined the journey of SARChI through the broader mandate of the NRF, which is based on four key pillars.

First, the NRF prioritises human capital development to build research capacity for both the sector and the country. Second, it supports this capacity through national research facilities that sustain the research ecosystem. Third, it emphasises public engagement with science, recognising that research must be understood and valued by society. Finally, it contributes to strengthening the national system of innovation, guided by the DSTI.

All these efforts are evaluated through the lenses of transformation, innovation, excellence and sustainability, with a growing emphasis on social impact to ensure that research meaningfully benefits society.

Dr Moche further highlighted the intentional and evolving growth of SARChI since its inception and implementation in 2006.

"The initiative quickly demonstrated impact, with 72 research chairs and 374 postgraduate students supported in its early phase, showing clear evidence that the model works," she said.

By 2009, a significant funding commitment enabled expansion to 82 chairs. By 2015, a deliberate focus on transformation and gender equity led to the appointment of 42 female chairholders, bringing the total to 197 chairs.

She emphasised that SARChI has increasingly prioritised strengthening research capacity, transformation and addressing national challenges, ensuring that the initiative not only builds skills but also drives meaningful change in society.

"The initiative is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This means research is not done in isolation, it must contribute to solving real societal problems and advancing development goals," noted Prof. Moche.

Speaking on behalf of the NRF Board, Ms Funeka Khumalo said the launch is a milestone that reflects the shared vision for the kind of research system South Africa seeks to build – one that is vibrant and capable, but that cannot thrive without intentional inclusion, strong institutions, and sustained investment in people.

"While South Africa's research system has achieved notable excellence," explained Khumalo, "we must also confront the historical and structural imbalances that have limited the growth of research capacity across much of our higher education sector. This initiative represents a deliberate and strategic intervention. By extending research leadership into HDIs and emerging universities, we are strengthening institutional research cultures, developing the next generation of scholars, and ensuring that knowledge production is aligned with national priorities and societal needs."

Dr Angus Paterson, Acting CEO of the NRF, said this initiative lays a strong foundation for a more inclusive, resilient and dynamic research system. It affirms that transformation within the research enterprise is a result of conscious choices, long-term commitment and coordinated action across government, funding agencies and institutions.

"It recognises that a truly capable and competitive research system cannot be built on narrow foundations but must be anchored across the full diversity of our higher education sector," he added.

"Our expectation for these new 41 research chairs is to help us enhance the research capacity of our HDIs, UoTs and new universities. We also expect them to be deliberate about the development and mentoring of young, black and women researchers. Most importantly, you have a duty to ensure that the knowledge produced by our public universities enables our strategic mission of placing science, technology, and innovation at the centre of government, education, industry and society," concluded Minister Nzimande.