Johannesburg: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Dr. Blade Nzimande, has called for stronger science-centred public-private partnerships to drive development in the country. Addressing the inaugural Science, Technology and Innovation Public Lecture at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, Nzimande said South Africa has a robust national system of innovation supported by government, universities, science councils and public agencies.
According to South African Government News Agency, Nzimande emphasized that public funding alone cannot deliver the innovation and economic resilience the country requires. He pointed out that private-sector research driven solely by commercial interests may not adequately address the developmental priorities and public-good objectives central to South Africa's socioeconomic context. To bridge this gap, Nzimande proposed a science-centred public-private partnership model that combines public oversight and academic excellence with private-sector investment, commercialisation expertise and agility.
Nzimande highlighted that while universities and science councils continue to produce world-class foundational science, many promising discoveries fail to progress beyond laboratory research and into commercial application. Concurrently, private companies are often reluctant to invest in early-stage, high-risk scientific research due to commercial pressures and shareholder expectations.
He noted that South Africa's science agenda is guided by the Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (2022-2032), which shifts the focus beyond pure research towards technology commercialisation and innovation-led socioeconomic development in support of the National Development Plan. The plan also aims to develop the country's human capital and transform the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pipeline by improving racial, gender and spatial representation while strengthening advanced research capabilities through initiatives such as the Presidential PhD Programme.
Furthermore, the Decadal Plan prioritises strengthening the foundational capabilities needed for the digital economy and building South Africa's digital sovereignty. Nzimande acknowledged that implementing the vision would require managing institutional differences, as universities and science councils operate within frameworks of academic freedom, peer review and longer research timelines.
He also stated that a science-centred public-private partnership needs effective facilitation mechanisms, such as jointly governed technology-transfer offices or special-purpose vehicles. Nzimande emphasized that innovation must be inclusive and support transformation, stating that it cannot be confined to elite institutions or established firms. Hence, the model must carry a clear transformation mandate and make it a measurable outcome. He concluded by asserting that every science-centred public-private partnership should support the development of researchers from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and integrate local small, medium, and micro enterprises into the supply chains of scientific hubs.
