South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development: key sector results and trends: science councils sector R&D at a glance. Fact sheet 36

South African science councils form an integral part of the national system of innovation. R&D performed by science councils, in areas such as the social sciences, health, agriculture, industrial development, and water, inform critical policy decisions by government, and other actors. This fact sheet details the profile of R&D expenditure in science councils in 2019/20. Expenditure on R&D increased in the science councils from R5.444 billion in 2018/19 to R6.198 billion in 2019/20. R&D spending by research field and socio-economic objectives in 2019/20 closely mirrored national priority areas, such as economic development, health, and education.