NACI Resources Studies etc. National system of innovation 2006

This background report has been prepared as an input to the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Country Review of the South
African National System of Innovation (NSI). The report was drafted by the National
Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) and has been structured according to the
framework of the terms of reference for the OECD Review, as agreed between NACI,
the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the OECD.
Within the African context, the South African NSI is relatively mature and developed. It has a solid governance framework, a clear set of policies, a strong set of performing institutions and funding agencies, and a relatively successful track record as regards innovation itself. Several of the institutions date back to the late 19th or early 20th century, and South Africa has made many important contributions to the domains of both knowledge and technology. 

These aspects of the NSI are the challenges for the future. In this report, further
details are provided of the history of the system, its governance and structure, its
policies and institutions, its inputs and performance, its strengths and weaknesses and some of its unique features. The report concludes with a summary of the main issues and several comments on how the NSI may change in the future.