Minister Blade Nzimande on Finance Minister’s visit to Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and calls for stronger investment in science, technology, and innovation

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, welcomed the Minister of Finance, Mr. Enoch Godongwana, to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), describing the visit as an important affirmation of the role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in strengthening South Africa’s economic resilience, industrial modernisation and inclusive growth. Minister Nzimande said the engagement underscored a shared understanding that South Africa’s long-term prosperity depends on the country’s ability to deliberately harness scientific and technological capabilities for development. “Science, technology, and innovation are not a luxury or an add-on. They are a strategic necessity and a foundational feature of national development,” Minister Nzimande said. The Minister reiterated the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation’s commitment to placing ST&I at the centre of government, education, industry, and society, in line with the country’s efforts to build a more knowledge-intensive and innovation-led economy. He highlighted the CSIR’s standing as Africa’s premier public research institution and its contribution to practical solutio