E-research support services: responding to a challenge facing the South African research and information communities

Abstract

Opportunities for researchers to interact with their global counterparts have improved dramatically since the advent of the knowledge era. To ensure that South Africa continues to meet international standards, the South African national research and development strategy, published in 2002, invited role players to find ways of increasing economic growth and improve the quality of life of all South Africans. Many relatively small, disconnected information projects with various funding streams were initiated to meet this e-Research challenge. However, the authors see a threat to sustainability and the need for a coherent information and knowledge support system and therefore propose a 'Team South Africa' approach, with high-level participation and commitment, to overcome certain current disparities in e-research support across the system and disciplines, that will be to the benefit of all researchers and research groups.