The objective of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is to support and promote research through funding, human capacity development and the provision of the necessary research facilities, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of the natural and social sciences, humanities and technology, including indigenous knowledge systems.

Short history of the National Research Foundation:
The NRF was established through the National Research Foundation Act (Act No 23 of 1998), following a system-wide review conducted for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST). The new entity incorporated the functions of the research funding agencies that were previously servicing various sections of the research community, namely the former Centre for Science Development (CSD) of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the former Foundation for Research Development (FRD) that included several National Research Facilities.

As an independent government agency, the NRF promotes and supports research in all fields of knowledge. It also conducts research and provides access to National Research Facilities. The NRF provides services to the research community especially at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Science Councils with a view to promote high-level human capital development. The NRF aims to uphold excellence in all its investments in knowledge, people and infrastructure.

The NRF receives its mandate from the National Research Foundation Act (Act No 23 of 1998). According to Section 3 of the Act, the object of the NRF is to:

The NRF has a vision (Vision 2015) of ensuring research excellence within a transformed research workforce that espouses a sustainable environment not only for the benefit of the present generation but also for future generations of South Africans. In short, the NRF vision is:

• World-class research
• Transformed society
• Sustainable environment

To contribute to the knowledge economy in South Africa by attaining at least 1% of global research and development (R&D) output by 2015.

The NRF values are:

• Passion for excellence
• World-class service
• Integrity
• Respect
• People-centered
• Accountability

The NRF adopted the following broad strategic goals:

• Promote internationally competitive research as basis for a knowledge economy
• Grow a representative science and technology workforce in South Africa
• Provide cutting-edge research, technology and innovation platforms
• Operate world-class evaluation and grant-making systems and
• Contribute to a vibrant national innovation system

The core competencies of the NRF are embedded in:

• Leading-edge grant management systems
• World-class research evaluation and benchmarking practices
• Science and technology management experience
• State-of-the-art research platforms
• Specialised research capacity at the National Research Facilities
• Strategic information accumulation and dissemination capability
• Capacity to catalyse local and international science cooperation, networks and partnerships and
• Science advancement expertise and platforms

Some of the NRF's main projects/initiatives are:

• Tierberg Karoo Research Centre: 20 years of data
  This project assembled, organised, analysed and archived two gigabytes of various long-term datasets (raw data, photographs, publications, etc.) as a contribution to SAEON's Node for Arid Lands.


• Jonkershoek High Altitude Catchment: 60 years of data
  The project ensured the continuation of long-term monitoring by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) when funding was withdrawn by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The importance of the project for monitoring climate change is demonstrated by the decline in Mean Annual Precipitation and Runoff.


• African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP)
  The SAEON Elwandle Node has been contracted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity to manage the current five-year phase of the international ACEP, inclusive of the deployment of a Remote Observation Vehicle (ROV) for underwater observations.


• Agulhas-Somali-Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ASCLME)
  The SAEON Egagasini Node has been designated by Marine and Coastal Management to manage the data for this international programme and SAEON researchers are participating in data collection on ASCLME cruises.


• Mapping the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of the mopane tree
  This project was conducted with volunteers and in collaboration with South African National Parks to determine baseline information necessary to establish if and how the mopaneveld will respond to climate change.


• Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) in Algoa Bay
  A multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional project to gather baseline data and to monitor ecosystem changes off Port Elizabeth and Coega.


• Water quality of South African Ports
  A project commissioned by the South African Ports Authority.


• Giyani Rehabilitation Monitoring
  A project funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs to determine the success of a project to rehabilitate degraded rangelands in a communal grazing area.


• Seventy Years of Change in Rocky Shores
  Biodiversity observation sites from 70 years before are being re-sampled to determine the impact of resource use, coastal development and climate change.

For a comprehensive list see:http://www.nrf.ac.za/projects.php

The NRF provide two types of complementary student support:

• Free-standing scholarships (SA students only) and fellowships which will be awarded directly to students undertaking full-time study, on a competitive basis. Students must apply for these awards themselves, and remain responsible for the submission of all required documentation.


• Grant-holder-linked assistantships and bursaries which will be granted to researchers within their NRF support packages and may be awarded to students selected by NRF grant-holders and linked to their research plans. Applications have to be made by the researchers in their applications for research grants in the respective NRF programmes.

A limited number of scholarships will be awarded for full-time honours, Master's and doctoral studies to top achievers in their research fields, for academic performance as well as their research potential. Applications for full-time honours and Master's awards as well as closing dates are available at various tertiary institutions and post graduate research offices.

The following Free-standing student support in the natural, social and human sciences, engineering and technology is offered:

• NRF Free-standing Honours Scholarships for full-time study in South Africa
• NRF/DST Innovation Scholarships for full-time Master's and doctoral study in South Africa
• NRF/DAAD In-country Scholarships for full-time Master's and doctoral study in South Africa
• NRF/DST Innovation Scholarships for full-time Master's and doctoral study in South Africa
• SABI/NRF Scholarships for full-time Master's and doctoral study in South Africa
• NRF Prestigious and Equity Scholarships for full-time Master's study in South Africa
• NRF Prestigious and Equity Scholarships for full-time doctoral study in South Africa as well as doctoral study abroad
• The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust (CCT) and the NRF joint funding of five (5) South African doctoral scholars
• Postdoctoral fellowships for research, either in South Africa or abroad
• Free-standing Innovation postdoctoral fellowships for research in South Africa
• SKA national diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries, scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships

For a comprehensive list see:http://www.nrf.ac.za/students.php

A wide range of potential services are available, these will become more specific as the initiative matures and clarity is gotten on the research priorities and needs identified under the RSSC.

• Overview of NRF Funding Opportunities, Grant Management, and the Rating of Researchers (Date: 2010-06-11)
  This booklet is intended to provide readers with a resource that will enable them to navigate the National Research Foundation's (NRFs) research funding landscape. Readers will find this a useful tool for interacting with the institution in pursuit of leveraging numerous funding opportunities available for the research community.
• NRF Annual Reports (Date: 2010-03-29)
• NRF Bursary and Scholarship Rules, Values and Distributions FY: 2010/1 (Date: 2010-01-04)
• Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Reports (Date: 2009-11-02)
• Impact Reports (Date: 2009-11-02)
• NRF Growth Strategy (Date: 2009-06-01)
• NRF Marketing Strategic Plan 2009 - 2015 (Date: 2009-06-01)
• Trajectories of NRF research support (Date: 2009-05-01)
• NRF Vision 2015 (Date: 2008-05-01)
• Overview of Grants, Scholarships, Fellowships & the Rating of Researchers (Date: 2008-04-01)

For a full list of NRF’s publications see:http://www.nrf.ac.za/publications.php