The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Stellenbosch University (SU) renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) following successful collaboration between the two organisations in various areas of research and development. Recognising the important role played by science councils and universities in the promotion of national and international collaboration and increased contribution to societal development, the two organisations have been working together in terms of an MoU they signed in 2008 and further renewed in 2010.

Dr Rachel Chikwamba, CSIR Group Executive: Strategic Alliances and Communication, says that the relationship established in terms of the 2008 MoU was fruitful and has resulted in numerous successful projects over the past five years.

"Historically, our scientists (CSIR and SU) have collaborated in a variety of areas. The MoU seeks to elevate collaboration in specific priority areas, which are aligned to national priorities and are core to the strategies of the two organisations. Human capital development is a critical mutual objective, and this partnership will allow the two institutions to join forces in creating skilled human capital and increasing the number of people with postgraduate training as articulated in the National Development Plan and various strategies of government," says Dr Chikwamba.

Prof Eugene Cloete, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at SU, says that the university is exploring possible areas of collaboration which will position them as one of the leading research universities in the world.

"The most critical challenges that South Africa faces require collaboration among different universities and research councils to create a critical mass to investigate and solve these problems. SU and the CSIR have had a synergistic relationship in the past and with this MoU, we aim to intensify the collaboration in areas where we have complementary expertise. The collaboration expands the capacity of the university to produce highly qualified staff, especially at Doctoral level, while doing directed research to solve major problems," he says.

Areas for collaboration will include ICT with a focus on network security; intrusion detection; wireless mesh networks; human language technologies; sign language machine translation; sensor web and distributed sensing; high-performance computing; ICT for unmanned aerial vehicles; mobile technologies; Internet of Things; as well as the expansion of ICT research capacity in line with the ICT Research and Development and Innovation Strategy.

In the area of natural resources and the environment, the focus is on sustainability studies, including wind and solar photovoltaics, ocean energy, invasive biology, resource economics, sustainable energy, environmental assessment and management, ecosystem services, coastal engineering, groundwater and environmental microbiology.

In the area of the built environment, the focus is on planning, rural infrastructure development and logistics/supply chain management.

The collaboration agreement also covers materials sciences and manufacturing with a focus on titanium research, polymer science, nanoscience, finite element modelling, microelectromechanical systems and electro-optics.

In the area of biosciences, the research collaboration focuses on drug delivery, fish farming (aquaculture), microbial and yeast expression, fermentation processes and bioprocessing to produce biotechnology products for use in health and other industrial sectors, bio-energy, food science and technology, nutrition, diagnostics, and HIV and TB prevention.

The MoU shall remain binding for a period of five years, unless terminated prior thereto by mutual written consent between the two parties. A joint steering committee was set to develop a strategic plan for the possible areas of collaboration between the two organisations; this committee will also oversee the progress and success of the MoU in each area of interest and also make recommendations.