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10 December 2009

South African Survey of Experimental Research and Development (R&D)

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Press Release

The key results of the latest National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) have been released, revealing some interesting trends.

R&D expenditure in South Africa has shown a steady growth in both nominal and real terms since 1993. 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.

Gross national expenditure on R&D (GERD) expressed as a percentage of GDP provides an indication of the concentration or intensity of R&D in an economy. There has been a steady increase in GERD as a percentage of GDP from 0.60% in 1997 to 0.95% in 2006. The current figures show that GERD as a percentage of GDP decreased slightly from 0.95% in 2006/07 to 0.93% in 2007/08.

You can download the full key results booklet from the R&D page of the CESTII website:
http://www.hsrc.ac.za/CCUP-RnD-7.phtml

Or directly in PDF format:
High Level Key Results booklet 2007-08

For further information or comment, contact:
William Blankley
Knowledge Systems
Tel +27 (0)21 466 7806
E-mail: wblankley@hsrc.ac.za

NOTE: National R&D surveys were not undertaken in 1995, 1999 and 2002. Since 2003 the National R&D survey has been undertaken on an annual basis.