Science & Technology

2015-03-11

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Reply received: March 2015

QUESTION NO.1056

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 MARCH 2015 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28-2014):

“1056. Dr Lotriet (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

Whether her department will consider launching a feasibility study into the establishment of a synchrotron light source in South Africa; if not, why not; if so, when would it be conducted?”

NW1216E

REPLY:

No, the DST will not consider launching a feasibility study for the establishment of a synchrotron light source in SA, for the following reasons:

The current small user base and level of local expertise does not justify the investment in infrastructure such as a synchrotron. The DST’s position is that the size of the South African synchrotron user community does not merit a dedicated facility and that it would be more cost-effective to procure beam time from European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and other synchrotron facilities. Hence, the DST has budgeted about R28 million over 5 years for access to the ESRF; and
The framework for a South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) recently developed by the Department in conjunction with the national research community, does not provide for the development of a South African light source as an immediate and critical research infrastructure.

Reply received: March 2015

QUESTION NO. 1051

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2015; QUESTION PAPER 8 - 2015

“1051. Dr A Lotriet (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

Whether her department has taken any action regarding the (a) strategic plan for the Synchrotron Science in South Africa and (b) business plan for Synchrotron Science in South Africa that were submitted to her department by the Synchrotron Research Roadmap Implementation Committee (SRRIC); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW246E

REPLY:

Yes, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has taken action regarding the strategic and business plans for the development of Synchrotron Science in South Africa (SA). In consultation with the South African synchrotron research community and based on the strategic and business plans developed by them, the National Research Foundation (NRF) on behalf of the DST in 2013 entered into a medium-term arrangement with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. Through this Arrangement an investment of about R27,782 million over five years (2013/14 to 2017/18) will be made to allow South African researchers and students to access the ESRF facility as a critical research infrastructure for the development of human capital and research capacity in synchrotron science in the country. In addition to the support for mobility and access to the ESRF, a further amount of about R2.5 million (or R0.5 million per year over 5 years) is being invested in support of local mobility and research capacity development.

Reply received: March 2015

QUESTION NO. 921

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2015; QUESTION PAPER 8 - 2015

“921. Mr B Bagraim (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

What amount was spent by (a) her department and (b) state entities reporting to her on (i) tickets and (ii) sponsorship on The New Age Breakfast Briefings for the last three financial years?”

NW1073E

REPLY:

The Department spent R484 299.36 on sponsorship for The New Age Breakfast Briefings in the last three financial years.

(b) The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the Human Science Research Council (HSRC), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) did not spend any amount on tickets and sponsorship on The New Age Breakfast Briefings in the last three financial years. The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) spent R7 130.70 for The New Age Breakfast Briefings in 2012/13.

(i) The Department and Entities did not spend any amount on tickets.

(ii) Department 2012/13: RNil.

2013/14: RNil.

2014/15: R 484 299.36.

TIA - 2012/13: R7 130.70.

2013/14: R Nil.

2014/15: R Nil.

Reply received: March 2015

QUESTION NO. 886

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2015; QUESTION PAPER 886 - 2015

“886. Mr CD Matsepe (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

Whether her department or the entities reporting to her provides any type of sponsorships; if not, what is her department’s position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the details of each sponsorship, (b) what is the value of each sponsorship, (c) when were each of these sponsorship deals undertaken and (d) when will each of the sponsorship deals end;

Whether her department or any of the entities reporting to her intends to enter into any type of sponsorship deal or contract in the (a) 2015 – 16 and (b) 2016 – 17 financial years; if not, why not; if so, (i) with whom will each sponsorship deal or contract be made, (ii) what will the terms of each sponsorship deals or contracts be, (iii) when will each of the sponsorship deals or contracts (aa) commence and (bb) end and (iv) what is the value of each of the sponsorship deals or contracts?”

NW1033E

REPLY:

(1) Yes, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) do provide sponsorships. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) do not provide any sponsorship

(a) DST: The DST has partnerships with various institutions and non-governmental organisations that seek to deepen public understanding of science, technology and innovation. The DST has a partnership with the University of Witwatersrand, the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) and UNESCO on developing a science communication training programme for researchers, scientists and journalists in print, online and electronic media. The DST also has a partnership with HIP2B2 3M Innovation Challenge which exposes learners to a scientific approach to life and how to use scientific methods and resources to address issues. Learners also create and design innovation models in addressing life’s challenges.

NRF: The Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) project under the NRF has sponsored various activities of the Agri Noordkaap in the Northern Cape in line with their stakeholder management strategy. The Agri Noordkaap is a body that is representative of the SKA’s stakeholder community who are directly affected by the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act and the construction of the telescope. The sponsorships were in lieu of supporting community engagement forums and have maintained communication channels between the SKA SA project and the community.

SANSA: SANSA engaged in various sponsorships predominately in the Aeronautical and Aerospace sphere, as well as ad hoc sponsorship with educational institutions and Science related competitions.

The International Aerospace symposium of South Africa is convened by The Aeronautical Engineering Society of South Africa, the Flight Test Society of South Africa, and incorporates the technical aerospace and unmanned systems conference. The event brings together the full spectrum of aerospace engineers, academics, researchers, students and industry leaders in South Africa and their international counterparts and provides a forum free of marketing presentations dedicated to the exchange of ideas and related technologies from a scientific as well as an industrial application point of view. The sponsorship is motivated in the context of the importance for SANSA to engage and interact with space engineering role players and the industry. This is well aligned with the SANSA mandate and objectives, specifically to create an environment conducive to industrial development in space technology.

South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association for International workshop for the Review of the Space Affairs Act No 84 of 1993, motivated in the context of enabling and supporting the international perspective of space affairs is important in SANSA’s alignment and compliance to the Space Affairs Act.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for Space Operations conference 2014 in America

The International Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) for their 19th Annual Committee meeting to develop consensus and synthesis at a world scale in the subject Ocean Colour Radiometry (OCR) – the meeting brought together specialised scientific experts in aspects of ocean-colour technology and its applications. OCR has many applications that SANSA Earth Observation and CSIR NRE have an interest in, including coastal zone monitoring and management, and ocean biogeochemical studies related to climate variability and change.

Educational Institutions:

University of Pretoria sponsorship for best Geography students.
Tshegofatso special school as part of Mandela Day celebrations.
Sponsorship contribution towards student presentation prizes with the South African Institute of Physics (SAIPS).

Competitions:

Sponsorship for the FynArts competition - a competition for children that takes place during the annual FynArts in Hermanus. The children use art to express their interest in space, and it is an impactful way for learners to find out about SANSA.
Sponsorship towards undergraduate student prizes in Physics with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
SciFest Africa sponsorship of 30 learners to attend a satellite building competition.
FameLab sponsorship for the international competition that promotes science and technology by creating space for scientists to find their voices and reach public audiences – SANSA is committed to inspiring the youth of South Africa to take up maths and science and this FameLab Programme allows local scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, an opportunity to showcase their knowledge on the global platform. It is with this belief that SANSA pioneers sponsorship of this event in the country as it enables brand visibility and establishes strategic partnership for furthering its human capital development and science advancement objectives.

(b) The value of each sponsorship is provided in the table below:

Entity	Amount (R’)	Sponsorship or event
DST	140 000	University of Witwatersrand, UNESCO and the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF)
DST	125 000	HIP2B2 3M Innovation Challenge
NRF	5 000	Agri Noordkaap activities
	55 000	Agri Noordkaap Congress help in Kimberley
	65 000	Agri Noordkaap travel and accommodation to attend meetings with SKA in Kimberley including a site visit
	15 000	Agri Noordkaap activities
	15 000	Agri Noordkaap activities
SANSA	90 000	Aeronautical Engineering Society of SA
	90 000	FlameLab Programme
	10 000	International Ocean Colour Co-Ordinating Group (IOCCG)
	50 000	SANSA Seminar: INNAV8 Session- A platform for Stakeholder Engagements
	7 000	African Renaissance Conference-New School Orchestra
	35 000	SA Aerospace Maritime and defence Industries Association
	5 000	University of Pretoria sponsorship for best Geography student
	565 220	African Associations for Remote Sensing Environment (AARSE Conference)
	2 396	Tshegofatso special school as part of Mandela day celebrations
	60 610	South African –Group Earth Observation ( CSIR/SANSA)
	400 000	NRF Mzansi for Science Marketing Campaign
	153 975	American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
	3 000	South African Institute of Physics - Prize Sponsorship
	1 990	Annual FynArts – Sponsorshipa competition for children that takes place during the annual FynArts in Hermanus.-
	1 000	University of KwaZulu Natal – Prize Sponsorship for Undergraduate Student Physics
	875	SciFest Africa – Prize Sponsorship of 30 learners to attend satellite building competition

Entity	Amount (R’)	Sponsorship or event	Financial year
DST	140 000	University of Witwatersrand, UNESCO and the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF)	2014/15
DST	125 000	HIP2B2 3M Innovation Challenge
NRF	5 000	Agri Noordkaap activities	2009/10
	55 000	Agri Noordkaap Congress help in Kimberley	2010/11
	65 000	Agri Noordkaap travel and accommodation to attend meetings with SKA in Kimberley including a site visit	2011/12
	15 000	Agri Noordkaap activities	2013/14
	15 000	Agri Noordkaap activities	2014/15
SANSA	90 000	Aeronautical Engineering Society of SA	2012/13 and 2013/14
	90 000	FlameLab Programme	2012/13 and 2013/14
	10 000	International Ocean Colour Co-Ordinating Group (IOCCG)	2013/14
	50 000	SANSA Seminar: INNAV8 Session- A platform for Stakeholder Engagements	2014/15
	7 000	African Renaissance Conference-New School Orchestra	2014/15
	35 000	SA Aerospace Maritime and defence Industries Association	2014/15
	5 000	University of Pretoria sponsorship for best Geography student	2014/15
	565 220	African Associations for Remote Sensing Environment (AARSE Conference)	2014/15
	2 396	Tshegofatso special school as part of Mandela day celebrations	2014/15
	60 610	South African –Group Earth Observation ( CSIR/SANSA)	2014/15
	400 000	NRF Mzansi for Science Marketing Campaign
	153 975	American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics	2014/15
	3 000	South African Institute of Physics - Prize Sponsorship	2014/15
	1 990	Annual FynArts – Sponsorships competition for children that takes place during the annual FynArts in Hermanus	2014/15
	1 000	University of KwaZulu Natal – Prize Sponsorship for Undergraduate Student Physics	2014/15
	875	SciFest Africa – Prize Sponsorship of 30 learners to attend satellite building competition	2014/15

(d) DST: The contracts ended on 30 September 2014 and 30 November 2014 respectively.

NRF: There are no contracts or deals between the stakeholder and the SKA SA project. These are ad hoc requests that are considered by the delegated authority at SKA SA.

SANSA: There are no contracts or sponsorship deals between SANSA and stakeholders; however SANSA had made commitments to ad hoc sponsorship engagements.

(2) CSIR, HSRC, NRF, ASSAf and TIA do not plan to enter into any sponsorship contracts or deals; only DST and SANSA intend to do that over the:

(a) 2015/16 financial year; and

(b) 2016/17 financial year.

Details regarding the DST and SANSA sponsorship for 2015/16 and 2016/17 are provided in a table below:

Entity	(i)	(ii)	(iii)		(iv)
Entity	(i)	(ii)	(aa)	(bb)	(iv)
DST	Universities of Stellenbosch and Witwatersrand	Science communication training and impact of science communication	1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 respectively	1 April 2016 and 31 May 2017 respectively	The value of each contract is R160 000, the total amount will be R320 000
SANSA	University of Pretoria	Best Geography student	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R6000 per annum
	South African Institute of Physics	Annual sponsorship engagement	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R3 000 per annum
	Annual FynArts	competition for children that takes place during the annual FynArts in Hermanus	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R1 990 per annum
	University of KwaZulu Natal	Prize Sponsorship for Undergraduate Student Physics	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R1 000 per annum
	SciFest Africa	Prize Sponsorship of 30 learners to attend satellite building competition	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R875 per annum
	Two students to attend the International Astronomic Conference (IAC) in Toronto	International conference	29 September 2015	3 October 2015	R80 000
	Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	2nd International African CubeSat conference (CPUT) seminar	3 November 2015	3 November 2015	R20 000
	Aeronautical Engineering Society of South Africa	International Aerospace Symposium	24 November 2015	25 November 2015	R40 000
	National Science Week	This is for various activities, Student outreach specific to the event. i.e. Transportation and accommodation of students	Once a year, the date has not yet been confirmed	It is a once off event	R64 000
	INNAV8	SANSA Seminar- a platform for stakeholder engagement	4 September 2015	4 September 2015	R50 000

Reply received: March 2015

QUESTION NO (425)
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 February 2015
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 4 -2015)

"425.Ms T Gqada (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology: With regard to the agreement between the Government and the government of the Russian Federation on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, dated 15 October 2014, will similar agreements be signed with other countries; if not, why not; if so, (a) with which countries and (b) by when will each of these agreements be signed?

REPLY

(a) My Department has entered into scientific and technological cooperation with numerous countries across the world. We will continue to enter into such scientific and technological cooperation where we find synergistic connection with our national system of innovation and where strategic imperative directs us to enter into such co-operations. A list of countries with signed and proposed science and technology agreements is attached for ease of reference.

(b) There is no specific date at the moment agreed upon for signing of the proposed agreements. Dates are generally negotiated between Ministries depending on mutually acceptable date by signatories to sign.

Please find here: Overseas Bilateral Cooperation

Reply received: February 2015

QUESTION NO 235

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 12 FEBRUARY 2015 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 1-2015)

“Mr N P Khoza (EFF) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

(1) With reference to her pronouncement that plans are underway to establish a state-owned pharmaceutical company, when will this company be operational?

(NW271E)

REPLY:

(1) Ketlaphela, the state-owned pharmaceutical company, will be operational in the first quarter of 2016.

2015-03-11

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