Despite economic challenges, South Africa maintained its research activity relative to economic growth, with universities taking the lead and foreign partners deepening their support in 2023/24.
The latest South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D Survey) reveals that nominal Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) was R43.413 billion.
In 2015 prices, this represents a modest year-on-year increase of 1.3% to R28.621 billion in 2023/24.
By contrast, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth stood at just 0.8% over the same period.
“Inflation-adjusted R&D growth is below nominal increases. With a flat R&D/GDP ratio of 0.62%, South Africa’s innovation investment is just keeping pace with economic expansion,” said Dr Nazeem Mustapha, HSRC Research Director and the R&D Survey’s principal investigator.
Growth by sectors
The higher education sector showed the strongest growth in R&D expenditure in 2023/24, buoyed by strong growth in researchers.
“Our universities are not only producing world-class science but also building the skills pipeline for the future,” Mustapha noted.
Government remained the single largest overall funder of R&D, providing R21.847 billion in nominal terms (50.3% of total expenditure).
Business enterprises contributed R12.033 billion (27.7%) in R&D funding, while foreign sources reached R8.106 billion (18.7%).
Although foreign funding grew at a slower pace than in 2022/23, business and higher education institutions recorded double-digit increases from international sources.
Shifts in research fields and sectors
The business sector continued to channel most of its R&D spend into financial and business services, which accounted for nearly half (45.8%) of all business R&D spending.
Manufacturing, though down slightly, remained the second-largest contributor at 29.9% of business expenditure on R&D, led by industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics. Mining and quarrying placed third, with 10.5%.
The mix between near-term applied solutions and longer-term foundational research is vital for both competitiveness and scientific advancement.
Across research activity categories, applied research dominated, representing 49.5% of all R&D expenditure.
The HSRC said businesses were the biggest spenders on applied research, investing R9.059 billion. Higher education, in turn, led in basic research, contributing R8.278 billion – around two-thirds of the national total.
Gauteng reinforced its position as the country’s R&D hub, with 40.2% of expenditure (R17.446 billion).
The Western Cape expanded to a 10-year high of 27.9% (R12.100 billion), followed by KwaZulu-Natal contributing 10.0% to R&D activity nationwide.
According to the HSRC, the research field that South Africa focuses on mainly is the medical and health sciences, with R10.578 billion worth of R&D expenditure in 2023/24.
The R&D expenditure on social sciences was R6.855 billion. Engineering sciences grew strongly to R5.760 billion, overtaking information and communication technology (ICT), which declined for a second consecutive year to R4.835 billion.
Biotechnology rose to R3.650 billion, while nanotechnology slipped slightly to R1.342 billion.
Women researchers grow their contribution
The survey notes a gradual increase in the share of women researchers, rising from 47.6% to 47.7%.
While progress is modest this year, it continues an upward trajectory in gender representation.
Click https://hsrc.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/RD_StatisticalReport2023-24_FINAL.pdf to access the results of the 2023/24 statistical report of the R&D Survey. – SAnews.gov.za
