Independent
Evidence generated independently of any single interest, to an international standard.
About the Centre
The Policy Research Company of the ST&I Business Forum: independent, decision-relevant evidence that converts research into industrial and policy outcomes.
Why we exist
Closing South Africa’s research-investment gap
South Africa’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) has remained stagnant at 0.61% of GDP, well short of the 1.5% target set in the Science, Technology and Innovation Decadal Plan (2022–2032) and among the lowest ratios of any comparable emerging economy. Addressing this shortfall is not solely a function of public expenditure; it is equally contingent upon mobilising private-sector investment in R&D and directing it towards settings in which returns are most likely to accrue and compound.
South Africa today0.61%
Stagnant since 2020/21
Decadal Plan target1.5%
STI Decadal Plan, 2022–2032
Reaching the target means more than doubling national R&D expenditure, a gap of 0.89 percentage points.
Sources: NACI STI Indicators Report 2025; DSI STI Decadal Plan 2022–2032; Statistics South Africa, Census 2022.
What we are
A shared platform for evidence, collaboration and impact
The ST&I Research Centre, the policy research company of the ST&I Business Forum, has been established to close this gap: to generate independent, decision-relevant evidence that converts research into industrial and policy outcomes, concentrated in the metropolitan economies and special economic zones where returns are greatest. Modelled on the world’s foremost innovation-policy institutions yet rooted in South Africa’s own priorities, the Centre offers universities, government and industry a shared platform for evidence, collaboration and impact.
ST&I
Research
Centre
UniversitiesGovernmentIndustryResearch
Centre
01 02 Decision-relevant
Evidence that converts research into industrial and policy outcomes.
03 Where returns are greatest
Concentrated in the metropolitan economies and special economic zones where innovation compounds.
04 Global models, local priorities
Modelled on the world’s foremost innovation-policy institutions, rooted in South Africa’s own priorities.
Our mandate
A clear policy mandate
The Centre’s establishment responds to a clear policy mandate: a path that runs from national policy to a dedicated research institution.
- 12019
White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation
National policy is reoriented towards ST&I as a driver of inclusive growth and re-industrialisation.
- 22022
STI Decadal Plan, 2022–2032
The orientation becomes measurable targets, among them research intensity of 1.5% of GDP.
- 3The Forum
ST&I Business Forum constituted
A business policy-advocacy organisation is formed to advance this agenda.
- 4Today
The ST&I Research Centre
The Forum’s dedicated research arm: its convening authority turned into a sustained, citable body of knowledge.
The ST&I Business Forum, constituted as a business policy-advocacy organisation to advance this agenda, has established the Centre as its dedicated research arm: an independent entity through which the Forum’s convening authority is translated into a sustained and citable body of knowledge.
Key figures
The research-investment gap in three numbers
Research intensity has stalled well short of the national target, while the metros carry most of the economy.
0.00%
South Africa’s gross expenditure on R&D as a share of GDP
0.0%
The target set in the STI Decadal Plan (2022–2032)
0%+
Share of GDP generated by South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities
Sources: NACI STI Indicators Report 2025; DSI STI Decadal Plan 2022–2032; Statistics South Africa, Census 2022.
Questions
About the STI Research Centre
Short answers to the questions we hear most often.
What is the STI Research Centre?
The ST&I Research Centre (also written STI Research Centre or STI Research Center) is the policy research company of the ST&I Business Forum. It generates independent, decision-relevant evidence that converts research into industrial and policy outcomes, concentrated in the metropolitan economies and special economic zones where returns are greatest.
How is it related to the ST&I Business Forum?
The ST&I Business Forum, a business policy-advocacy organisation, established the Centre as its dedicated research arm: an independent entity through which the Forum’s convening authority is translated into a sustained and citable body of knowledge.
Who leads the ST&I Research Centre?
Tilson Mphathi Manyoni is the Chairperson, and Dr Nomhle Ngwenya is the Chief Executive Officer.
Where is the Centre based?
In Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, Republic of South Africa. The Forum’s footprint spans Ekurhuleni, Cape Town, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay and Polokwane.
What does the Centre research?
Eight priority areas: the hydrogen economy; science and innovation parks and technology development zones; industrial innovation; the Ekurhuleni University of Science and Innovation; ST&I research and development tax incentives; equity equivalent investment programmes; an innovation venture fund; and space technology and the digital economy.
How can an organisation partner with the Centre?
Universities and research institutions, business and investors, and government and development partners can collaborate as research and co-authoring partners, funders, data partners or members of the Research Advisory Panel. Email info@stibusinessforum.co.za or use the enquiry form.
Partner with the Centre
We invite universities, research institutions and business partners to collaborate as research and co-authoring partners, founding and programme funders, data partners, and members of our Research Advisory Panel.