Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Prof. Blade Nzimande expressed concern over the US government’s decision to withdraw research funding for biomedical and health collaborations with South African institutions.
This withdrawal will likely hinder research on communicable diseases and affect patients in clinical trials. In response, Minister Nzimande is forming a Working Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding (STI-WG) to evaluate the implications of the funding loss and propose risk mitigation strategies.
The group will assess its impact on South Africa’s National System of Innovation (NSI) and suggest long-term policy measures. The Working Group members will be appointed within a week. An initial draft report is due in four weeks, and the final report is due by June 30, 2025.
