The new document is expected to ensure a growing role for STI in building a more prosperous and inclusive society to accelerate wide-ranging economic growth, make the economy more competitive and improve people's everyday lives.

It focuses on two main goals; to ensure South Africa benefits from STI for economic growth, social development and transformation, and to respond to the risks and opportunities brought by rapid global technological advancement and other global changes.

It has considered a number of megatrends spanning the geopolitical, economic, social, technological and environmental spheres.

These megatrends include a growing population, increased consumption driven by an expanding middle class in emerging economies, the rise of China and India, and the impact on the natural environment. 

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane South African Minister of Science and Technology, said though there had been good progress in the implementation of the 20-year document, South Africa failed to benefit fully from the potential of STI to advance the objectives of the National Development Plan, hence the review. 

“Challenges remain and the national system of innovation is still not fully inclusive,” she said.  “To enable South Africa's effective participation in this new world order, which is bringing increasing automation and digitisation, the Department of Science and Technology has developed a new policy document.”

Ms Kubayi-Ngubane said the world had changed and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is rapidly transforming the way people interact, transact and learn is already well advanced in the developing world.

“SA need to leverage these by strengthening partnerships between business, government, academia and civil society and creating a more enabling environment for STI.”

“The degree to which countries prepare for these changes will determine whether they thrive.”

  Ms Kubayi-Ngubane said South Africa could benefit from those opportunities by using technology to modernise sectors such as agriculture and mining and increase exports to growing markets. 

“The STI lies at the heart of the preparation for this emerging future, and South Africa, therefore, needs to build on progress in areas such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and ICT research and innovation. This White Paper proposes policy interventions to accelerate skills development, leverage ICT, commit to openness, and support inter-and trans-disciplinary research.

It also puts in place mechanisms to institutionalise foresight capacity to assist collaborative planning across government for STI.”