South Africa Admitted to the International Human Frontier Science Programme
In January 2023, South Africa was admitted as a member of the International Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) following a competitive application process. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) will serve as joint institutional members.
South Africa is the 16th country to be admitted, and the only country from Africa.
This membership underscores the value that South Africa places on supporting fundamental research in the understanding of complex mechanisms in the life sciences to advance industry, health, and human well-being. As a member, South Africa will work closely with other HFSP members to support innovative basic research; apply novel and interdisciplinary approaches; and enable scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries to address fundamental biological problems.
Furthermore, this membership will significantly contribute to the research and education programmes supported by the NRF and the SAMRC and, by implication, the African continent. The membership will be informed by building critical relationships between researchers, students and other HSFP partner institutions that champion co-discovery, co-creation, skills development, knowledge sharing, innovation, and advancement in basic sciences. Through joint programming with partners, South Africa will increase its vital scientific and innovation skills development through unique research and training programmes in basic sciences, with specific emphasis on generating outcomes that have direct socio-economic impact and thereby benefit to society.
“This membership will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa becomes globally competitive in frontiers research relating to life sciences, thereby promoting innovation and a transformed research system,” stated NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo.
The SAMRC President and CEO, Professor Glenda Gray, added, “This partnership will have a fundamental impact on building South Africa’s capacity and global influence in life sciences for the greater benefit of society”.
The HFSP was founded in 1989 to advance international research and training at the frontier of the life sciences. The HFSP funds high-risk, interdisciplinary, intercontinental, collaborative, fundamental life science research, with a philosophy of “science without borders”. It encourages innovative and novel thinking to support transformative and paradigm shifting research. With its collaborative research grants and postdoctoral fellowships, the programme has issued over 4,500 awards involving more than 7,500 scientists from all over the world. Since the beginning of the Programme, 28 HFSP awardees and four Nakasone Award Winners have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.
About the NRF:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) is an independent statutory body established in accordance with the National Research Foundation Act. Its mandate is to support and promote research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge; supporting and promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science; and promoting the development and maintenance of the national science system and support of Government priorities, thereby contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans.
Website: www.nrf.ac.za | Twitter: @NRF_News | Facebook: @NRFSouthAfrica
About the SAMRC:
The mandate of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is to improve the health and quality of life of South Africans, realised through research, development and technology transfer. Established in 1969, the scope of the organisation’s research projects includes tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular and non-communicable diseases, gender and health, and alcohol and other drug abuse. With a strategic objective to help strengthen the health systems of the country – in line with that of the Department of Health, the SAMRC constantly identifies the main causes of death in South Africa.
Website: https://www.samrc.ac.za/ | Twitter: @MRCza | Facebook: @samrc.za
Media Queries:
Bongani Nkosi
Media Relations Officer
NRF Corporate Communications
Email: b.nkosi@nrf.ac.za / Tel: 061 477 3064
Tendani Tsedu
Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications
SAMRC Corporate Communications
Email: Tendani.Tsedu@mrc.ac.za / Tel: 021 938 0388