South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development

Conducted by the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)

The Department of Department of Science and Technology commissions the Knowledge Systems research programme of the HSRC to conduct the annual Survey of National Research and Experimental Development inputs, according to the guidelines laid down in the Frascati Manual

The R&D Report has finally been approved by StatsSA and the D-G for public release.

This site and the attached, downloadable documents, cover the methodology employed and the results for the five sectors covered in the Surveys. The 2001/02 Survey constituted the first official survey since that of 1997/98. Following the Frascati Manual, the Survey covered business enterprises, government, higher education institutions, not-for-profit institutions and science councils.

NEWS:  2007/08 R&D Survey key results released, December 2009
The report reveals  that between 2006/07 and 2007/08 total R&D expenditure increased from R16.520 billion to R18.634 billion. This represents a nominal annual increase of about 12.8% (compared with a 16.8% increase between 2005/06 and 2006/07). In real terms (constant year 2000 Rand) R&D expenditure increased by 3.1% which is less than the 8.7% increase between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
	High-Level Key Results booklet 2007/08
Visit the Previous Survey Reports page for the results of previous surveys.  ____________________________________________________________

Conceptual framework

Frascati Surveys have been carried out internationally for more than 40 years, but common understanding to what properly constitutes R&D remains somewhat problematic.

The Frascati Manual definition of R&D is as follows: “Research and Experimental Development (R&D) is creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock knowledge to devise new applications.”

As much care as possible is taken to develop a common understanding with the respondents of what properly constitutes R&D.

The Frascati Manual is extensive and complex, and considerable effort was invested in developing a User Guide, and supporting the sector participants in completing the questionnaires as fully and accurately as possible The Frascati Manual, however, provides a set of guidelines, not prescriptions.

It is noted that the survey time series was both interrupted (no data in 1999/2000) and subject to methodological variation, since it was executed by different agencies between 1991 and 2001.

This Survey confronted the dual role of conducting the Survey in parallel with capacity building.

Measurement design

The work of the Surveys entails the development of appropriate sector sampling methodologies (covered in the Survey Management and Results System database). The sampling methodology and measurement design were reviewed and approved by the DST Reference Committee.

Breaking down of R&D performers into five sectors represents a deliberate choice. In many OECD countries it is common practice to combine some of the five sectors. It was decided to avoid confusion by surveying the sectors separately as has been previous practice in South Africa

More information on the various sampling frames for the five sectors and survey instruments can be obtained by downloading the 2001/02 Report .

Survey results

The results of all previous surveys are available for download in PDF format. This includes the high level results booklets and full survey reports for the 2001/02 Survey, the 2003/04 Survey, the 2004/05 Survey and the latest 2005/06 Survey. Visit the Previous Survey Reports page.

Disclaimer: Survey data may be freely used, subject to the acknowledgment of its source. Any interpretation or further analysis is the responsibility of the third party.