South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development sector results and trends: not-for-profit sector R&D at a glance 2020/21. Fact sheet 46

Abstract

The not-for-profit sector plays an important role tackling the structural causes of social challenges facing the country. In addressing these challenges, and through collaboration, NPOs conduct R&D critical to the needs of South Africa. R&D expenditure in NPOs has increased significantly in the past decade, from R170 million in 2011/12 to R1.568 billion in 2020/21. The majority of R&D spending was in the medical and health sciences, particularly infectious diseases with a focus on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, and malaria, which are key health challenges in South Africa. NPOs rely heavily on foreign funds, with approximately 65% of R&D funding coming from abroad.