South African national survey of research and experimental development: science councils at a glance, 2023/2024. Fact sheet 70

In 2023/24, science council R&D spending increased. This marked the highest level of science council expenditure since 2018/19 and reflected the continuation of the sector’s steady recovery. Over the past decade, science councils maintained a strong emphasis on applied research, while basic research remained stable and experimental research showed more pronounced variation. The sector was led by a small number of major councils, most notably the CSIR, supported by several smaller institutions.