SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH CHAIRS INITIATIVE

SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH CHAIRS INITIATIVE

CALL FOR FULL PROPOSALS FROM UNIVERSITIES FOR 60 NEW RESEARCH CHAIRS

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor has announced the awarded 60 additional Research Chairs to expand the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). The Research Chairs Initiative was established in 2006 as a strategic intervention of the South African government to reverse brain drain in the public academic and research sector. In particular, the programme is aimed at increasing scientific research capacity through the development of human capacity and stimulating the generation of new knowledge. It is designed to significantly expand the scientific research base of South Africa in a way that supports implementation of the national Research and Development policies.

Investment in research, and in particular the Research Chairs, is intended to improve South Africa’s international research and innovation competitiveness while responding to social and economic challenges of the country. As such Research Chairs have been awarded in all knowledge domains including science, engineering and technology and the social sciences and humanities. It is in this context that the 60 new Research Chairs were awarded in directed and thematic areas within the following themes:

· Technology Missions including ICT, Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing and Emerging Research Areas;

· Science Missions through areas of Geographic Advantage for scientific research;

· Science and Technology for poverty alleviation and local/regional innovation including sustainable rural development;

· Open Category with a focus on Fundamental Disciplines, Scarce and Critical Knowledge Fields;

· Innovation, Engineering and Technology Development and Commercialisation; and

· Priority research areas namely the Grand Challenges.

The NRF is calling for proposals from the universities to submit a full proposal for each awarded Research Chair that includes, a research and activity plan and the nomination of a candidate for appointment to the approved Chair position. The NRF has set two closing dates, for submission of Phase 2 proposals to give the universities sufficient opportunity to identify suitable candidates. Call documents will be made available on the NRF website.

Download CALL FOR FULL PROPOSALS [251.67 KB]

Download REVISED_GUIDE_FOR_APPLICATIONS_SARChI [372.57 KB]

Download SARChI Phase 2 Proposal Template [537.00 KB]

Download SARChI REVIEW FRAMEWORK [601.30 KB]

Download List of awarded Research Chairs_29 February 2012 [34.97 KB]