The idea that knowledge, and specifically science, is a major driving force in modern societies has become pervasive, in public debate in general and in science and technology policy discourse in particular. Increasingly, the progress of societies, the quality of life of its citizens and the success of its economies are seen to depend on the capability to develop and implement effective policies and strategies for the production, distribution and application of knowledge — education, scientific research, R&D, technology.
This is no less true for South Africa where the establishment of a true knowledge society is hugely dependent on a healthy, robust and sustainable science and innovation system.
The core mission of the newly established DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP) is to study and analyse the state and dynamics of the South African science system as well as its contribution to South African society. Its scientometric analyses will focus on studies of research publications and knowledge production at research-performing institutions (universities, science councils and national facilities); the degree to which South Africa’s research is internationally recognised and whether it has the desired effects or impacts; as well as an analysis of trends in research collaboration both on the African continent and internationally.
The Centre will specifically focus on the human resources base in the country and the imperative to expand the productive scientific base through the continuing inclusion of more female and black scientists and scholars in knowledge production. We will continue our research into the post-graduate pipeline from honours to doctoral studies and beyond, in order to model optimal scenarios to establish whether South Africa has sufficient numbers of highly qualified scientists and researchers in all scientific disciplines. Our bibliometric studies will also investigate the emergence of new knowledge fields and whether national funding by agencies such as National Research Foundation (NRF) and Medical Research Council (MRC) are impacting on the knowledge production in strategic fields such as astronomy, biotechnology, climate change and ecological sciences, the health and life sciences and the humanities and social sciences.
SciSTIP will also strengthen the existing capacity in the country to assess the benefits and impact of publicly funded research. There are increasing demands on the scientific community to demonstrate that its research not only adds to scholarship in specific disciplines, but also impacts positively on society in the form of improved quality of life, the reduction of poverty and technological innovations. In short, it is essential that we have reliable metrics of knowledge production, use and impact across all scientific disciplines so as to ensure that we harness the potential and value of science for all South Africa’s citizens.
New Centre of Excellence
The DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP) was established on April 1 2014. It is hosted by the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST, www.sun.ac.za/crest) at Stellenbosch University and co-hosted by the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI) at Tshwane University of Technology (www.ieri.org.za ). SciSTIP has two institutional partners: the Centre for Higher Education Trust (CHET, www.chet.org.za) and the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at the University of Leiden (www.cwts.nl).
Challenges
– To develop a robust and credible theoretical core of work to contribute to the international scholarship in science and technology studies (STS);
– To provide reliable data and intelligence about the state and performance of science in South Africa, in order to inform the work of the Department of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation and other key actors in the National System of Innovation; and
– To educate and train the next generation of scientometricians, sociologists of sciences and science and innovation policy analysts for the country and the continent.
Professor Johann Mouton is the director of SciSTIP and Crest at Stellenbosch University