December 3, 2025

South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Developments sector results and trends: higher education personnel engaged in R&D at a glance 202/21. Fact sheet 49

Key Points

R&D personnel in higher education declined for the first time in ten years, impacting the national system of innovation.
The fact sheet indicates that human resources are critical for effective research and development in South Africa.
National system of innovation trends highlight the importance of higher education in fostering R&D.
This decline suggests potential challenges for future research initiatives within the country.

Abstract

Research and development (R&D) in South Africa is dependent on the human resources that are available within the national system of innovation (NSI). The higher education sector hosts the majority of the country's R&D personnel, making it instrumental to the research performed across the NSI. This fact sheet shows how the number of R&D personnel in higher education declined in 2020/21 for the first time in ten years.

Bookmark

South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Developments sector results and trends: higher education personnel engaged in R&D at a glance 202/21. Fact sheet 49

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider