Tshwane:President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged for enhanced collaboration between the government, universities, and national science councils to leverage research, innovation, and skills development to address South Africa's economic and social challenges.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President made this appeal during a meeting with university vice-chancellors and national science councils at the Union Buildings. He emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships around key national priorities, such as job creation, water and energy security, industrialization, and technological development.
President Ramaphosa highlighted the critical role universities and public research institutions play in supporting the country's developmental objectives, noting that their potential remains largely untapped. He pointed out the ongoing challenges of high unemployment, poverty, and inequality, with the official unemployment rate at 33.7% and nearly half of young job seekers remaining unemployed.
The President outlined three strategic priorities for the government driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. He stressed the importance of a coordinated skills development system involving universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to facilitate seamless transitions for young people from education to employment.
Concerns about South Africa's investment in research and innovation were also raised. President Ramaphosa noted that the country invests about 0.6% of its Gross Domestic Product in research and development, falling short of the 1.5% target by 2030. He called for increased investment and collaboration to ensure research translates into practical solutions and economic opportunities.
Among the priority areas identified were water and energy security, artificial intelligence capabilities, industrialization, and maximizing economic and social value from critical minerals. The President emphasized the need for South Africa to develop its own capabilities in emerging technologies and to strengthen research into processing critical minerals domestically.
President Ramaphosa also highlighted the role of academic institutions in supporting a capable state through expertise in planning, public administration, and evidence-based policymaking. He stressed that government’s call for universities to contribute to national development should not undermine their institutional autonomy or academic freedom.
Moreover, he addressed the financial sustainability of higher education institutions, governance instability, and the need for effective public procurement to position the state as a first customer for local innovations. The President expressed hope that the meeting would lead to concrete commitments for structured collaboration between government, universities, and science councils.
The President concluded by acknowledging the potential of South Africa's youthful population and the foundational role of universities and research institutions in development, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing these resources for the country's future.