NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION

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• NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION
• PRESENTATION TO THE PARLIAMENT PORTFOLIO
  COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

19 FEBRUARY 2008
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MANDATE

• The statutory mandate of the National Advisory
  Council on Innovation (NACI) is to provide
  Minister of Science and Technology with advice
  pertaining to the National System of Innovation

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Advice

• must,
• enhance the Ministers decision-making
  capabilities
• be relevant and pro-active
• be evidence-based
• AND
• aimed at,
• positioning ST and innovation as the key drivers
  for economic growth

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Advice

• aimed at,
• mobilising innovation to improve SAs
  international competitiveness
• improves quality life of all South Africans
• optimising performance of NSI, including women

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Type and levels of advice
Quick response advice
expertise, councilors, networks, internet, etc
Researched advice
commissioned research
MINISTER OF Science Technology
Beyond-the-horizon advice
think-tanks, future studies
Briefings
combination of above
Annual Advice
combination of above
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Who is NACI?

• The MEMBERS, including the chairperson, all serve
  in PART-TIME capacities
• Two members, namely DG DST and a representative
  of DTI are ex-officio government officials
• Members have a broad expertise and experience in
  all spheres of the scientific, technological and
  innovation disciplines

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Who is NACI?

• Meets 4 times per year for plenary sessions
• Has 5-members Executive committee
• Full-time NACI-secretariat

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PAST YEAR

• NACI participated in the OECD country review of
  the South African NSI by producing the background
  report
• Policy on gender and race equity in SET
• Launch of the National Biotechnology Advisory
  Committee
• Advice on physical infrastructure for ST in
  South Africa

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OECD REVIEW

• NACI, key in facilitating the visit by OECD team
  TO EVALUATE THE SA NATIONAL SYSTEM OF INNOVATION

Advice on implementation on recommendation 2008
NACI produces a BACKGROUND REPORT on NSI

• Competitive overview of
• the economy
• policies structure of the NSI
• financial and human capital inputs to the NSI
• performance of the NSI
• Strengths weaknesses
• Uniquely South African issues

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RACE GENDER EQUITY POLICY FRAMEWORK

• A SET4W OUTPUT (10 person NACI standing
  committee)
• A race gender equity policy framework within
  which institutions on the South African NSI can
  implement effective measures for ensuring that
  South Africans women participate fully in, and
  benefit from, innovative SET research, the
  production of SET products the provision of SET
  services

growing innovation and RD for competitiveness C
ontributes significantly to social development
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LAUNCH OF THE BIOTECHNOLGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(NBAC)

• From National Biotechnology Strategy (2001)
• NBAC to advise the Minister of Science and
  Technology on strategic development of
  biotechnology in South Africa
• KEY FUNCTIONS OF NBAC
• provide strategic advice and interpretation in
  the general development of the South African
  biotechnology sector
• monitoring and advising on issues pertaining to
  biotechnology

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ADVICE ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ST IN
SOUTH AFRICAN

• Physical Infrastructure a combination of all the
  facilities required to provide the basis for
  education or research in a nation
• Advice
• Priority given to infrastructure that
• maximises benefit to as many missions as possible
• Is under threat if not given immediate attention
• Has the potential to facilitate foreign direct
  investment, including in RD

BASIS FOR DSTs long term ST infrastructure plan
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Other Advice

• Development of a profile of Best Practice in the
  NSI
• Governance
• Performance Monitoring
• Technology Transfer
• The role and Structure of NACI
• Role
• Members
• Link between NACI DST
• Secretariat
• NACI act

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INTERNATIONAL LIAISON

• Approach towards international liaison
• International peer-evaluation of final reports
• Briefing of foreign delegations fact-finding
  missions
• Participation in international conferences
• NACI fact-finding missions to counterparts abroad

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OUTLOOK FOR 2007/2008

• NACI will continue to provide relevant,
  pro-active and evidence-based advice to the
  Minister of Science Technology
• Work in progress will be completed, and new
  studies are
• Projects following from the OECD
• Review of the state of science and technology
  policy interaction in Africa and their
  implications
• Regular reporting on the state of the NSI
• South African system of providing science advice
  to government