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DST fails to 'incentivise'

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Pretoria, 22 Oct 2014
The Department of Science and Technology is falling behind on its innovation targets.
The Department of Science and Technology is falling behind on its innovation targets.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will not meet its target of incentivising 285 innovation partnerships this year, because a guideline has yet to be developed.

In National Treasury's Adjusted Estimates of National Expenditure, it notes the "progress on innovation support interventions, developed in key strategic areas, was slow in the first half of 2014/15, as the guideline for the establishment of the incentive scheme for intellectual property creators has not yet been fully developed and communicated to stakeholders".

The document explains extensive consultation is necessary, because of "the broad impact of the incentive scheme and the need to avoid any unintended consequences". Because of this, its target for the year will not be met.

The department only supported three innovation interventions, while no new technology innovation products were developed or supported in key strategic areas, against a target of six.

Slow progress in developing and supporting new technology innovation products was attributed to delays in finalising funding for the Cape Peninsula University of Technology programme.

"The funding has been earmarked for the institution through the National Research Foundation, and delays in negotiations with the Water Research Commission on the water demonstrations programme are further reasons for the slow progress."

Behind target

Of the 21 knowledge and innovation products (patents, prototypes, technology demonstrators or technology transfer packages) the department aimed to add to its intellectual property portfolio through fully funded or co-funded research initiatives, it only added one.

In addition, the department was set to secure R354.6 million in foreign science, technology and innovative funds for knowledge production, technology transfer, enhanced innovation and science, technology and innovative human development from international partners through agreed instruments. However, it only secured R70.8 million.

Despite the slow progress, the department anticipates meeting the balance of its targets by the end of next March. So far, the DST has spent 55.7% of its R6.48 billion budget, with the year-on-year decline in expenditure being mostly the result of delayed projects, such as its biotechnology demonstration project, while R9.7 million has been rolled over for the construction of the Cofimvaba Science Centre in the Eastern Cape.

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