South African national survey of research and experimental development: not-for-profit sector R&D at a glance 2023/24. Fact sheet 69

In 2023/24, not-for-profit organisations contributed R1.159 billion to national R&D, which was the lowest level since 2018/19. Despite this contraction, applied research in the sector has shown a steady long term rise, while experimental research has continued to decline and basic research has remained relatively stable. Not-for-profit R&D is primarily focused on medical and health sciences, which accounted for over three quarters of expenditure, with all other research fields representing comparatively small proportions. Personnel trends reveal significant shifts in technician headcounts over the decade, alongside a gradual recovery in researcher numbers and a recent decline in other R&D personnel.