Annual Performance Report 2011-2012 Research uncovering tomorrow NRF APR Cover 13 Aug Final 4.indd 1 2012/08/13 3:03 PM Research uncovering tomorrow What is the origin of matter? What is the universe made of? What happened a fraction of a second after the Big Bang and how does that impact on the future? How does research today uncover tomorrow? During 2008 the NRF adopted its longer-term strategy, Vision 2015. The NRF Annual Performance Report 2011-2012 reviews the progress the entity has made since embracing the five strategic goals of Vision 2015. In order to create a better future, we need to learn from the past and watch the present. This report therefore reflects on what has been achieved with a view to make every step count on the challenging road ahead. NRF Annual Performance Report 2011-2012 ISBN: 978-1-86868-076-4 PO Box 2600 Pretoria 0001 Tel: +27 12 481 4000 Fax: +27 12 349 1179 E-mail: [email protected] NRF APR Cover 13 Aug Final 4.indd 2 2012/08/13 3:03 PM Introduction The National Research Foundation (NRF) is proud to present its Annual Performance Report for 2011/12. This report offers an overview of the activities and performance of the NRF and highlights the impact of a small selection of NRF-supported research projects. XiTsonga Sepedi National Research Foundation (NRF) ya tinyungubyisa ku andlala National Research Foundation (NRF) ka boikgantšho e hlagiša Pego Xiviko xa yona xa Lembe ra 2011/12. Xiviko lexi xi nyika mbalango ya yona ya Ngwaga wa 2011/12. Pego ye e fa tebelelokakaretšo ya wa migingiriko na matirhelo ya NRF no kombisa ntshikelelo wa mešomo le phethagatšo ya NRF gomme e bontšha khuetšo ya kgetho ye nhlayo yitsongo ya tiphurojeke ta vulavisisi lebyi seketeriwaka hi NRF. nnyane ya diprotšeke tša dinyakišišo tšeo di thekgilwego ka ditšhelete ke NRF. TshiVenda National Research foundation (NRF) i a ḓihudza kha u vha ḓetshedza isiZulu Muvhigo waha wa 2011/12. Hoyu muvhigo u sumbedza mishumo I-National Research Foundation (NRF) iyaziqhenya ngokwethula yothe yo itwaho na kushumele kwa NRF na u tahisa zwe thandela umbikowayo wonyaka ka-2011/12. Lo mbiko unikeza umbono jikelele thukhu dzo nanguludzwaho dzo tikedzwaho nga NRF dza bveledza. ngemisebenzi kanyenokusebenza kwe-NRF futhi ugqamisa umthelela wokhetho oluncane lwamaphrojekthi ocwaningo axhasweyi-NRF. SiSwati National Research Foundation (i-NRF) iyatigcabha ngekwetfula isiXhosa Umbiko Wemnyaka wa-2011/12. Lombiko usitfulela imisebenti kanye I-National Research Foundation (NRF) inebhongo ngokuthi nekusebenta kwe-NRF kanye netibonelo temtselela yemiklamo thaca kwayo iNgxelo yayo yoNyaka ka-2011/12. Le ngxelo inika lemincane yekuphenya leyesekelwe yi-NRF. isishwankathelo semisebenzi kunye nokusebenza kwe-NRF kwaye iqaqambisa iimpembelelo zemikhankaso emincinane yophando Setswana ezixhaswa yi- NRF. National Research Foundation (NRF) e motlotlo go tlhagisa Pegelo ya yona ya Ngwaga wa 2011/12. Pegelo e e neelana ka tshekatsheko isiNdebele ya ditiro le go dira ga NRF le go supa bokao jwa karolo e nnye ya National Research Foundation (NRF) iyazikhakhazisa ekwethuleni diporojeke tsa dipatlisiso tse di tshegediwang ke NRF. umBiko womNyaka we-2011/12. Lombiko unikela ngokurhunyeziweko imisebenzi eyenziwa yi-NRF begodu uveza imithelela yamaprojekte Sesotho amancani werhubhulululo akhethiweko asekelwe yi-NRF. National Research Foundation (NRF) e motlotlo ho fana ka Pehelo ya yona ya Selemo bakeng sa 2011/12. Pehelo ena e nehelana Afrikaans ka kakaretso ya diketsahalo le mosebetsi wa NRF mme e hlahisa Die Nasionale Navorsingstigting (NNS) bied met trots sy Jaarverslag dintlhakholo tsa sephetho sa karolo e nyenyane ya diprojeke tsa vir 2011/12 aan. Hierdie verslag bied ’n oorsig oor die bedrywighede diphuputso tse tshehetswang ke NRF. en werkverrigting van die NNS aan en plaas klem op die impak van ’n beperkte keuse uit NNS-ondersteunde navorsingsprojekte. 1 Contents CHAIRMAN’S OVERVIEW 4 • Materiality framework 22 • Policy framework 22 CEO’S STATEMENT 6 • Sustainability management 22 PART A: BOARD REPORT 8 Corporate human resources and transformation 24 Performance management 24 Corporate overview 10 Remuneration 24 NRF mandate 10 Staff recruitment, turnover and succession planning 24 NRF Vision 2015 10 Employment equity and organisational transformation 25 Mission statement 10 Suitably qualified staff 26 NRF values 10 Training and development 27 NRF strategic goals 10 Labour relations climate 29 NRF core competencies 10 Composition of the NRF 11 Corporate finance 30 Relevant policies and the delivery environment 11 Income 30 NRF strategic investment 13 Expenditure 30 NRF Board 14 PART B: BUSINESS OVERVIEW 36 Governance functions of the Board 14 Term of office 14 Science Advancement and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) 38 NRF Board members as at 31 March 2012 15 Focus and infrastructure 39 NRF Board committees 16 Science advancement performance through SAASTA and Purpose and composition of the Board committees 16 the National Research Facilities 40 Meetings of the Board and its committees 16 Science advancement performance trends 43 Remuneration of the Board 18 Research and Innovation Support and Advancement NRF governance structure and support 19 (RISA) 50 Governance structure 19 Purpose and scope 51 Governance support 22 Services 51 • Performance planning and reporting 22 Sources of funding 51 • Business intelligence 22 Investment principles 52 • Enterprise risk management 22 RISA structure 53 2 RISA programmes 53 PART C: FINANCIAL REPORT 104 • Applied Research, Innovation and Collaboration (ARIC) 53 • Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) 56 Statement of responsibility by the Board of Directors 106 • Knowledge Fields Development (KFD) 60 Audit and risk committee report 107 • International Relations and Cooperation (IR&C) 66 Report of the Auditor-General 108 • Grant Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) 66 Statement of financial position 110 • Knowledge Management and Evaluation (KM&E) 67 Statement of financial performance 111 RISA special projects 68 Statement of changes in net assets 112 • Research Information Management System (RIMS) 68 Cash flow statement 113 • DST/NRF Internship programme 68 Accounting policies 114 • International Council for Science Regional Office for Notes to the annual financial statements 130 Africa (ICSU ROA) 68 Supplementary information 156 RISA performance according to the strategic goals 70 RISA performance trends 72 PART D: PERFORMANCE INDICATOR REPORT 160 National Research Facilities 74 NRF performance according to the NRF strategic goals 162 Definition and clustering 75 NRF performance according to the Balanced Scorecard 173 Generic activities 75 • The SKA-SA project as a special project of the NRF 76 PUBLICATION LIST 175 • South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) 78 • Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) 82 ACRONYMS 182 • National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) 86 • South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) 90 • South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) 94 • iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) 98 Performance of National Research Facilities according to the strategic goals 102 National Research Facilities performance trends 103 3 Chairman’s overview "The SKA itself will propel more innovation. The flow of data that will come from the 3 000 dishes is expected to exceed the total traffic on the worldwide web – the kind of challenge that South Africans thrive on." Professor Robin Crewe From vision to fruition The bid for the SKA project has already galvanised significant local spin- offs for South Africa’s manufacturing and scientific capacity. The Karoo On the Science and Technology front in South Africa, the year 2012 will Array Telescope (KAT) dishes were manufactured locally, and more than be remembered for the announcement that the bulk of the biggest global 400 bursaries have been given to universities to train young people to radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), will be based in South work in and around the project. The SKA itself will propel more innovation. Africa. This achievement is the result of unwavering work by many people The flow of data that will come from the 3 000 dishes is expected to since this project was formed and then set into motion by Dr Khotso exceed the total traffic on the worldwide web – the kind of challenge that Mokhele of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Dr Rob Adam South Africans thrive on. from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2002. From euphoria to new enthusiasm It is a huge privilege for the NRF Board that was inaugurated in October 2011, to be associated with the SKA announcement as this project enters Notwithstanding the excitement around the SKA project in our national the implementation phase. system of innovation, the NRF Board will have to confront several other challenges in the system with renewed enthusiasm. This SKA announcement will play a unique catalytic role in the history of the county - where the re-engineering of our developing economy is South Africa as a country is faced with some daunting difficulties centred around two aspects, i.e. people and infrastructure. The SKA, (outlined in the National Planning Commission’s Diagnostic Overview of as large scale scientific equipment, stands as a beacon of hope and an 2011). These difficulties are concentrated around poverty and inequality example of what can be achieved towards developing our people and and include amongst others, issues