Your Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh
Your Excellency, Mr Antony Philipsson, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in South Africa
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honoured and delighted to be present with you tonight. It is indeed a privilege that His Royal Highness’ very busy programme in South Africa, includes this focused engagement, on science and innovation, as well as higher education and training. I would therefore like to thank High Commissioner Philipsson for hosting us tonight, and for his committed support for cooperation between our two countries, which will be significantly enhanced by the opportunities presented through the UKs new International Science Partnership Fund, he unveiled tonight.
South Africa warmly welcomes the launch of the International Science Partnership Fund and both my Departments, the Department of Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education and Training, stand ready to work with their counterparts in the UK to co-design and co-fund, programmes to be implemented with the support of the Fund. These values of co-ownership and co-responsibility, which also underpinned our successful cooperation under the Newton Fund, is crucial for South Africa, as it ensures alignment with our national priorities. I am therefore confident that the Fund will create valuable opportunities to support the implementation of both South Africa’s Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as our National Plan for Post-School Education and Training.
Your Royal Highness, permit me to briefly highlight three reasons, why I am excited about the possibilities offered by the International Science Partnerships Fund.
Firstly, the cooperation envisioned will directly support the building of both institutional capacities as well as human skills development in South Africa. In this regard, I would like to express our appreciation for the UK’s support through the Fund for building capacity in our tertiary education system through the University Staff Development Programme. Developing skills for technology transfer and commercialization among university staff and students is another South African priority, which will benefit from the Fund’s support, through its Africa Science Entrepreneurship Programme.
The second reason for my excitement is that the planned cooperation is strategically aligned with the thematic science, technology and innovation priorities set out in our Decadal Plan. I am, thus, especially excited about the plans for a new Joint Research Chair in the field of Digital Humanities, as the use of digital resources in the social sciences will be critical for the success of our response to societal challenges such as understanding the future of society within a context of technology disruption. I am also delighted that the Fund will continue to support our joint efforts in support of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory global partnership, by developing skills for radio astronomy in Africa.
I would also like to assure you, Your Royal Highness, that we will continue to pay special attention in our cooperation to research in support of the sustainable management of natural resources, and the conservation of our environment, including the ocean, priorities, which I know, you hold dear.
Thirdly, I am excited, and grateful that the launch of the Fund will further bolster South African - UK science diplomacy, benefitting the political, economic, and social relations between our countries. Science is a universal language. and its values can bring countries and people together, across borders, despite the negative impact of geopolitical tensions. At a time when international friendship and partnership as well as multilateralism is under threat, science diplomacy has a crucial role to play, which we should protect and nurture.
Your Royal Highness, in recognition of the contribution of the British People, notably through the Anti-Apartheid Movement, to South Africa’s successful struggle for freedom and democracy, relations between South Africa and the UK had a special place in the heart of President Nelson Mandela. I would therefore like to conclude with a quote from Madiba, when he spoke in 1996 in London at a State Banquet, hosted by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, whose memory tonight we also honour.
In his address, President Mandela stated “This century has also been one of profound change for the world as a whole. Through many changes have led to a better world, much of the globe is still pervaded by poverty or conflict which it should have been within human capacity to eliminate. South Africa is eager to join hands with Britain in the world community of nations as a partner for peace and prosperity into the new millennium.”
If sadly, the challenges of global poverty and conflict remain today, 28 years later, as important as ever, South Africa’s firm commitment to collaboration with the United Kingdom to bring peace and prosperity for all, remains as steadfast as when first expressed by President Mandela. It is cooperation we look forward to continuing with the support of the International Science Partnerships Fund.
I thank you.
