Mrs Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, who announced this at the closing session of the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA 2017), said her Department would engage the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and other partners to kick-start modalities for its planning and execution.

The two-day event was organised by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the National Research Foundation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and themed: “Igniting Conversations About Science.”

She said staging this global event would feature Africa more prominently in participation of global science collaborations, significantly contribute to the achievement of the African Union Agenda 2063 for the continent as well as facilitate actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mrs Pandor expressed optimism that the SFSA2017 call for continental governments to invest heavily in science, technology and innovation (STI) and to develop robust national systems of innovation must be heeded without excuses.

Minister Pandor in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said STI has capacity to develop solutions and solve the myriads of societal problems that confront South Africa and the entire continent.

She said South Africa was operating within its national blueprint framework anchored on creating well-connected and coherent national systems of innovation to craft strong institutions and human capital for greater strides in research and innovations.

“We have the remit of achieving national goals within grand challenge areas in science policies in 2018, the game-changer is to shore up policy development in the renewables for energy, quality water resources, biotechnology and space science, particularly astronomy due to the geographical advantages and human and social dynamics available to it.”

On research and development (R&D) financing as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), a directive to member states by the African Union, Mrs Pandor said all countries including hers have not actualized that directive but have made tremendous progress in that vein.

She said an ambitious GDP targeting of 1.5 percent towards financing R&D has been agreed for 2020 and beyond, demonstrating that South Africa is fully committed to harnessing all investments and gains in STI as engine of developmental growth for national progress.

The Minister of Science and Technology said gender parity and inclusivity are being mainstreamed while media engagements and collaborations are being triggered for greater visibility and called on the continental media fraternity to demonstrate keen interest in pushing the science and technology agenda in a pan-African rhythm.

Distinguished individuals, institutions and corporate establishments, whose work impacted on STI were honoured to bring the curtail down on SFSA 2017.