National Survey of Research and Experimental Development - Main Analysis Report (2017/18)

South Africa has come a long way in the measurement of science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators. Over the past twenty-five years, since 1994, there have been several attempts to understand the science, technology and research landscape of South Africa, and to develop indicators of progress in implementing policy initiatives. Information gleaned from the annual R&D surveys assists in responding to and monitoring policy progress.
This report provides descriptive analysis and commentary on the results of the 2017/18 R&D Survey. It is accompanied by the Statistical Report, which presents data tables for 2017/18 in the form of trend data for the past ten years, as well as key findings and commentary placing the results in context. Together, these reports provide R&D data and indicators that enable the reader to raise policy issues and research questions for further exploration.
The R&D Survey covers the main institutional sectors that perform R&D in South Africa, namely the business, not-for-profit, government, science council and higher education sectors. This approach is followed to satisfy national data needs and, at the same time, maintain consistency with the international sector categorisation for measuring R&D recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities: Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys on Research and Experimental
Development, commonly known as the Frascati Manual (OECD, 2002, 2015).