US funding cuts put R2.5bn of South African research at risk

After the US withdrew federal research funding, about R2.5 billion in South African research programmes and more than 2,000 research positions are at risk. A ministerial working group report recommends predictable domestic funding, raising R&D investment to 1.5% of GDP and creating a sovereign innovation fund.

• R2.5bn in research and over 2,000 positions at risk
• Foreign funders account for 17.3% of South Africa's R&D spending
• Target is to raise R&D investment to 1.5% of GDP
• Report calls for a fully-fledged sovereign innovation fund