DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Their core work

South Africa's national government department responsible for science, technology, and innovation policy and funding. Within H2020, they act as a funding agency that co-finances joint EU-Africa research programmes through ERA-NET instruments and Coordination & Support Actions. Their core contribution is bridging European and African research systems — aligning funding programmes, enabling researcher mobility, and ensuring African priorities (food security, renewable energy, raw materials) are represented in joint calls. They do not conduct research themselves but shape the policy and financial architecture that makes EU-Africa collaboration possible.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015-2017, the department focused on broad EU-Africa STI diplomacy — building frameworks for cooperation, policy dialogue, and research networking (RINEA, ESASTAP 2020, ICRI 2016). From 2018 onward, their engagement became far more thematic and operational, concentrating on circular economy, raw materials, renewable energy, and food security through specific ERA-NET co-funding mechanisms. This shift reflects a maturation from general partnership-building to targeted joint programme implementation with defined funding commitments.

Moving toward concrete thematic co-funding (materials, energy, biodiversity) rather than general cooperation frameworks — expect them to bring African funding commitments and policy alignment to future partnerships.

How they like to work

Almost exclusively a participant (16 of 17 projects), which fits their role as a national funding body joining European coordination networks rather than leading them. With 276 partners across 70 countries, they operate as a high-connectivity hub — one of the most internationally networked non-European participants in H2020. Their repeated engagement in ERA-NET instruments means they are a reliable co-funder who commits national resources to joint calls, making them a valuable partner for any consortium seeking African reach.

Exceptionally broad network of 276 partners across 70 countries, making them one of the most globally connected H2020 participants from outside Europe. Their partnerships span all major EU research nations plus extensive African coverage, positioning them as a key gateway between the two continents.

What sets them apart

As a national science ministry from a major African economy, they bring something most H2020 participants cannot: direct access to South African government funding, policy frameworks, and research networks across the African continent. For consortium builders targeting Horizon Europe's Global Challenges or international cooperation dimensions, they offer a ready-made bridge to African research systems with a proven track record of co-funding through ERA-NETs. Few organizations can match their ability to align European and African research agendas at the policy level.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LEAP-RE
  Their largest grant (EUR 311K) and flagship long-term EU-AU renewable energy partnership — a Research & Innovation Action rather than their typical coordination role.
• ICRI 2016
  Their only coordinated project — hosting the International Conference on Research Infrastructures in South Africa, signalling the country's growing role in global research infrastructure (notably SKA/MeerKAT).
• ERA-MIN3
  Third generation of the raw materials ERA-NET, demonstrating sustained multi-year commitment to circular economy and critical raw materials co-funding with European partners.