South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development 2017/18: key sector resultd and trends: government sector R&D at a glance. Fact sheet 22

Government plays a central role as both a funder and a performer of research in South Africa. In 2017/18, government funded 46.7% of R&D performed in South Africa, equivalent to R18.082 billion. The major beneficiaries of government R&D funding in 2017/18 were higher education institutions and science councils. In line with national priorities, government expenditure on R&D was largely concentrated within the medical and health sciences, social sciences, and agricultural sciences.