Page 34 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

and through disciplines, but also requires great depth supporting the local development and manufacture
and rigour in the attendant disciplines. Research also of medical devices and diagnostics, and the USAID-
contributes to developing intellectually engaged funded BRILLIANT programme which is aimed at
citizens who can participate meaningfully in their supporting HIV vaccine development and testing on
political, social and cultural lives” . the African continent.
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10.4.1.12. Localisation of Research, Localisation of research and development (R&D)
Development and Innovation has profound impact on fostering innovation at
In 2002, the South Africa’s National Research and scale. Localising R&D efforts can cultivate innovative
Development Strategy stated that “adequate solutions that directly address the health challenges
responses to new diseases and to old forms of new confronting South Africans. This commitment entails
diseases, whether these diseases affect humans investing in local talent, forging partnerships with
or animals, need to be informed by local research domestic institutions, and conducting research
programmes. From a security perspective, even aligned with the South African context. The 2nd
being a smart buyer of rapidly developing technology Presidential Health Compact 2024-2029 mandates
rather than a developer requires a critical mass of the academic institutions, the South African Medical
local scientists doing research in relevant areas. The Research Council, and the Council for Scientific and
S&T capacity of the country is running as fast as it Industrial Research to collaborate and produce a
can but is still losing ground” . joint strategy to fast-track research and development
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processes, mainly focusing on the co-development
In September 2023, the Department of Science of state-owned intellectual property.
and Innovation (DSI) announced the conclusion
of a financing agreement with Germany's KfW 10.4.1.13. Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Development Bank to produce vaccines. Under the The lack of access to healthcare services, combined
agreement the German government, through KfW, with the erosion of traditional healing practices,
will provide South Africa with €20 million for vaccine contributes to the health disparities experienced
development and production infrastructure over by Black South Africans. Commitment is required to
a period of five years. The grant is exclusively for reclaim and revitalise traditional knowledge about
financing equipment for the development, production medicinal plants in the country, as well as promote
and certification of active pharmaceutical ingredients their safe use for primary healthcare. There is a
for vaccine production in South Africa. The grant will growing need to incorporate traditional medicines
be used, among other things, to support the mRNA into the broader healthcare system and thus
Technology Transfer Hub that South Africa is hosting investment is necessary to make traditional medicines
for the World Health Organization as well as the more acceptable by establishing quality standards
South African vaccine manufacturing strategy, led by as well as confirming efficacy and safety through
the DSI. The DSI is the recipient of the KfW financial laboratory testing. The SAMRC is supporting various
support on behalf of the South African government pilot projects to progress traditional medicines to
and the SAMRC is the project executing agency. The clinical evaluation as well as platforms to support the
programme will provide critical support to bolstering laboratory validation of these medicines.
vaccine research and development, including pre-
clinical research, infrastructure and establishing a 10.4.1.14. Exchange rate
vaccine manufacturing industry in South Africa. Exchange rate volatility is often a reflection of
broader economic instability. This can create
Further localisation initiatives led by the SAMRC uncertainty in SAMRC's financial planning and
include the TIA-funded Medical Device and make it challenging to budget effectively. Overall,
Diagnostic Innovation Cluster Programme, which is

11 STI Decadal .jpg (406×572) (dst.gov.za). Accessed 2 September 2024
12 South Africa's National Research and Development Strategy (www.gov.za) accessed 3 September 2024

SAMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 2025/26 – 2029/30 33