Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
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ANNUAL 2018/19 PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa Published by: CSIR Communication Enquiries: Tel +27 12 841 2911 • Email: [email protected] ISBN-13 978-0-7988-5643-0 “The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and particularly multi-disciplinary research and technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields which in its opinion should receive preference, industrial and scientific development, either by itself or in co-operation with principals from the private or public sectors, and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people of the Republic, and to perform any other functions that may be assigned to the CSIR by or under this Act.” (Scientific Research Council Act 46 of 1988, as amended by Act 27 of 2014) CONTENTS The CSIR at a glance ......................................................2 From our leadership .......................................................6 Organisational highlights .............................................. 24 Financial sustainability and governance .......................... 66 Executive report ........................................................... 87 Consolidated financial statements ................................ 101 Knowledge dissemination ............................................ 148 Abbreviations ............................................................ 175 1 INTRODUCTION THE CSIR AT A GLANCE 2 342 TOTAL STAFF BASE 1 608 1 610 1 041 *SET BASE BLACK SOUTH FEMALE SOUTH AFRICANS AFRICANS *Science, engineering and technology figures as at 31 March 2019 2 CSIR ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 INTRODUCTION • FROM OUR LEADERSHIP ○ ORGANISATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ○ FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNANCE ○ EXECUTIVE REPORT ○ CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ○ KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION ○ 320 ABBREVIATIONS ○ Staff WITH DOCTORAL QUALificatioNS 536 PUBLicatioN EQUIVALENTS 586 staff WITH MASTER’S-LEVEL 319 QUALificatioNS JOURNAL articLES ±R126 m totaL INVESTMENT IN HCD 22 NEW PATENTS 50 NEW TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATORS CSIR ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 3 1 INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE CSIR The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that undertakes directed multidisciplinary research and technological innovation that contribute to the improved quality of life of South Africans. The organisation plays a key role in supporting government’s programmes BUILD AND TRANSFORM through directed research that is HUMAN CAPITAL aligned with the country’s priorities, 2 342 CSIR total staff headcount the organisation’s mandate and its 1 608 Science, engineering science, engineering and technology and technology staff competences. (62% are black and 36% are female) The CSIR fosters partnerships with a Employees are employed network of partner organisations and 82.5% in the professional and clients, regionally and abroad, as part skilled categories of a global sphere of influence on Employees have doctoral matters of technology. Our national 320 qualifications footprint is testament to our commitment to serving diverse communities and 586 Employees have master’s-level sectors, with the CSIR’s main campus qualifications located in Pretoria and our regional offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Stellenbosch – in proximity to CONDUCT HIGH-QUALITY applicable industries across the country. RESEARCH TO FOSTER SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT We draw expertise from diverse research • In total, 45% of CSIR articles were fields to provide integrated solutions and published in journals with an impact factor interventions to support a broad range (IF) of 2 – 4.99 (in the top 10% of journals) of national development programmes, as and 9% of CSIR articles were published set out in the National Development Plan. in journals with an IF of five or higher (i.e. in the top 6% of journals) Impact is at the core of the organisation’s • At the end of 2018/19, the CSIR generated business and the objectives have been R1.746 billion in contract R&D income crafted to ensure that we achieve this. 4 CSIR ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 INTRODUCTION • FROM OUR LEADERSHIP ○ ORGANISATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ○ FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNANCE ○ EXECUTIVE REPORT ○ CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ○ KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION ○ ABBREVIATIONS ○ Our ability to contribute to a CONDUCT RELEVANT RESEARCH better future for all is illustrated TO FOSTER INDUSTRIAL in our unique value proposition, DEVELOPMENT which is the multidisciplinary 50 Technology demonstrators. nature of our skills base. These are a lead indicator Two-thirds of our staff consist of technology transfer of scientists, engineers and R5.42 m Royalty and licence income technologists who share a passion for shaping a better future through science and technology INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL innovation. Our innovations are AND DEVELOPMENT made possible through our state- of-the-art research infrastructure • Exceeded the annual target of and some of the brightest minds ≥ R61 million and invested R74 million who call the CSIR home. in property, plant and equipment It is this combination of excellence in research, highly skilled staff FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY and world-class infrastructure that AND GOVERNANCE puts the CSIR at the cutting-edge of research and technological R7.7 m Net profit in 2018/19 innovation to improve the quality of life of South Africans. CSIR ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 5 2 FROM OUR LEADERSHIP MINISTER’s foREWORD Dr Blade Nzimande Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology In the period since democracy, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has built an impressive portfolio of research and innovation capabilities that has positioned the organisation as a pioneering innovation leader on the continent, with a global impact. The CSIR has a critical role to play in addressing issues As a public entity, reporting to the Department of plaguing our economic advancement, particularly the Science and Technology (DST), the CSIR remains critical triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. for government to realise the National Development Plan (vision 2030) and the Nine-Point-Plan, guided by our This role is embedded in its mandate to foster scientific White Paper. and industrial development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans, particularly the youth, women and I therefore congratulate the CSIR for embarking on a people with disabilities. strategy to realign its role to become more effective in driving innovation-led research and development in It is undeniable that South Africa’s investment in research response to the massive developmental challenges of our and development (R&D) has been constrained in recent economy and society. If this strategy is executed correctly, years. However, the CSIR demonstrated through its it could position the CSIR in the forefront of the drive to innovative outputs that investment in R&D is critical for build a national innovation system that is central to the our country’s overall development and prosperity. strategic goals of the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (March, 2019). THE CSIR IS The fact that the new CSIR strategy is rooted in ENCOURAGED technologies for the future, bodes well for South Africa’s readiness for the era of the fourth industrial revolution TO IMPLEMENT (4IR) and its many contradictory opportunities and MORE LONG- challenges. TERM SUstaiNABLE ENGAGEMENT The CSIR has also ensured that it builds and transforms PROGRAMMES. its human capital base to better reflect the demography THE CSIR HAS and strategic needs of our country. Out of a total staff STEADILY BUILT headcount of 2 342, 1 608 make up the science, A STRONG engineering and technology base. Of these, 62% are REPUtatioN FOR black and 36% are female. EXCELLENCE AND Some 82.5% which makes up the majority of the CSIR TRANSFORMatioN. employees are employed in the professional and skilled categories; 320 have doctoral qualifications and 586 have master’s level qualifications. 6 CSIR ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 INTRODUCTION ○ FROM OUR LEADERSHIP • ORGANISATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ○ FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GOVERNANCE ○ EXECUTIVE REPORT ○ CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ○ KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION ○ ABBREVIATIONS ○ I am pleased to note the overall progress and In order to contribute to a transformed, stronger and achievements of the organisation in the year under efficient National System of Innovation, as a Department, review, especially on projects and research interventions part of our responsibility is to fund students and that government is directly funding. researchers to ensure that we have sufficient pipeline of researchers who also reflect the demographic landscape The outputs of the Biomanufacturing Industry of our country. Development Centre are commendable. The centre supports small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) We therefore remain committed to ensuring that we by giving them access to world-class biomanufacturing promote diversity and employment equity across facilities and research expertise. organisations under our mandate. To date, the Centre has supported 31 enterprises; has We appointed the CSIR to manage the funding of 89 products that are either in market evaluation stage or postgraduate bursaries through the DST/CSIR Interbursary transferred to SMMEs and has also signed 14 licences. Support Programme for key strategic areas as identified by the department and which also align to the CSIR’s Over a period of four years, 183 new permanent jobs research activities. have been created