Page 30 - SAMRC Annual Performance Plan 2026-27

PART B: SAMRC STRATEGIC FOCUS
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requires flexibility and fluidity that allows for thinking that South Africa is hosting for the World Health
across, beyond and through disciplines, but also Organisation as well as the South African vaccine
requires great depth and rigour in the attendant manufacturing strategy, led by the DSI. The DSI is
disciplines. Research also contributes to developing the recipient of the KfW financial support on behalf
intellectually engaged citizens who can participate of the South African government and the SAMRC
meaningfully in their political, social and cultural is the project executing agency. The programme
3
lives” . will provide critical support to bolstering vaccine
research and development, including pre-clinical
9.2.6 Localization of Research and research, infrastructure and establishing a vaccine
Development and Innovation manufacturing industry in South Africa.
The SAMRC facilitated a study to better understand
the size, characteristics and dynamics of the medical Localisation of research and development (R&D)
devices industry, to acquire more information on has profound impact on fostering innovation at
local capabilities, expertise and stakeholders within scale. Localising R&D efforts can cultivate innovative
the value chain, such as for product development, solutions that directly address the health challenges
testing, manufacture, market introduction and confronting South Africans. This commitment entails
commercialisation, and to identify any gaps and investing in local talent, forging partnerships with
barriers. domestic institutions, and conducting research
aligned with the South African context. The 2 nd
This medical device landscaping survey has added Presidential Health Compact 2024-2029 mandates
to the existing understanding of the medical the academic institutions, the South African Medical
device innovation and manufacturing ecosystem Research Council, and the Council for Scientific and
in South Africa. It has revealed important aspects Industrial Research to collaborate and produce a
regarding the size and shape of the manufacturing joint strategy to fast-track research and development
sector, the country’s knowledge generating capacity processes, mainly focusing on the co-development
manifested in its STI institutions and the support of state-owned intellectual property.
infrastructure available to manufacturing companies
and STI institutions. Importantly, it has reaffirmed 9.2.7 Artificial Intelligence
and added to the previous knowledge base around Emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence
the key gaps and barriers that have been hampering (AI), machine learning, and quantum computing, are
the growth of the sector. transforming the world at an unprecedented pace.
These powerful tools have the potential to solve
In September 2023, the Department of Science some of the greatest global health and development
and Innovation (DSI) announced the conclusion challenges, from infectious diseases to climate
of a financing agreement with Germany's KfW change to poverty and inequality – if developed
Development Bank to produce vaccines. Under responsibly, safely, and ethically. According to
the agreement the German government, through the WHO Global Strategy on Digital Health,
KfW, will provide South Africa with €20 million for technologies are rapidly transforming healthcare
vaccine development and production infrastructure delivery worldwide, streamlining patient information
over a period of five years. The grant is exclusively management, enabling remote consultations, and
for financing equipment for the development, empowering individuals to monitor their health.
production and certification of active pharmaceutical However, these innovations must be developed by
ingredients for vaccine production in South Africa. and for communities where global health challenges
The grant will be used, among other things, to are most acute, particularly in LMICs, for the greatest
support the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub impact.

3 STI Decadal Plan - 14Dec23 (Approved).pdf. Accessed 2 September 2024

28 SAMRC ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN 2026/27