On 29 September 2026, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, officially released the report of the Ministerial Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Funding for public comment.
The report responds to a rapidly changing global science, technology and innovation environment characterised by shifting funding priorities, geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and intensifying technological competition.
Recent disruptions—including restrictions on access to vaccines and therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the January 2025 withdrawal of United States federal funding from major health research and clinical trial programmes in South Africa—have underscored the risks of excessive dependence on external funding.
“South Africa needs a stronger and more resilient domestic funding architecture, together with a firm commitment to protect public science infrastructure as a strategic national asset.”
“Scientific sovereignty does not mean isolation or retreat from international collaboration. It means having the capacity to set our research priorities, sustain strategic capabilities, protect intellectual assets and deploy science in support of national development, while engaging the world through cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect.”
Minister Nzimande established the Working Group in May 2025 to assess the impact of foreign funding on the national system of innovation and recommend measures to secure its long-term sustainability.
The Working Group submitted its report in August 2025. In July 2026, the Ministry presented the report and its 11 recommendations to Cabinet.