News
Honourable President, on behalf of South Africa’s public system science system, I wish to thank you once again for accepting our invitation to visit one of the South Africa’s most premier public science and technology institutions - the CSIR.
Mr. President, as you know, the core mandate of the Ministry, and Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), is to promote and support South Africa’s national development agenda, as expressed in the National Development Plan (NDP) and the strategic policy priorities set by the 7th Administration. Click here for the full speech.
On 8 April 2025, #TeamCSIR was honoured to host President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Pretoria Campus. The visit aimed to showcase the organisation’s key research areas, which support a capable state and the country’s socio-economic development agenda. President Ramaphosa was accompanied by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande and the Deputy Minister, Ms Nomalungelo Gina. Click here for the full speech and watch the video.
The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) invites applications from eligible undergraduate students at South African universities to participate in the 2025 CHPC Student Cluster Competition. This competition provides students with valuable exposure to the high-performance computing Industry.
The CSIR is making strategic investments in key infrastructure to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported therapeutics and health products. This initiative follows the challenges highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which exposed the continent’s heavy reliance on external medical supplies.
South Africa’s first net-zero science centre, designed by the CSIR, is now an ongoing citizen science experiment in green building practices and a model for future buildings. Learners from two nearby high schools in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, use tablets to score the building’s thermal performance, while its water and energy efficiencies are monitored in a digital twin building. Click here to watch and read more.
New research by the CSIR and its partners reveals that climate change denialism looms large in South Africa, with nearly half of the population believing coal to be a renewable energy source. These findings, among many others, were shared in the inaugural Citizens’ Environmental Awareness, Beliefs and Behavioural Preferences In South Africa 2022 report, published in 2024. Click here to read this story.
A team of port and coastal researchers at the CSIR intends to create a lasting impact at this year’s African Harbour Masters’ Conference. Taking place in Cape Town from 2 to 4 April 2025, the CSIR will showcase its technologies, innovative capabilities and approaches to port development and operations, including eco-friendly systems that sustainably address the diverse needs of coastal communities.
Researchers at the CSIR have contributed to the book titled “Antarctica in the Earth System”, aiming to raise awareness of the vulnerability of polar regions. This publication serves as an invaluable resource for educators designing teaching materials, students studying polar sciences, policymakers shaping climate strategies and researchers working to protect the fragile ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
The CSIR is pleased to announce the commencement of its Vaccine Production Technologies course (CSIR-VP-1A), scheduled to start on Monday, 21 July 2025, as part of its African Biomanufacturing Workforce Training and Skills Development Programme.
The deadline for applications is 05 May 2025.