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Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Mission statement
"The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and particularly multi-disciplinary research and
technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields which in its opinion should
receive preference, industrial and scientific development, either by itself or in co-operation with
principals from the private or public sectors, and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality
of life of the people of the Republic, and to perform any other functions that may be assigned to the
CSIR by or under this Act."
Overview
Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945, the CSIR is one of
the leading scientific and technology research, development and
implementation organisations in Africa. It is situated in Pretoria
and represented in each of the nine provinces of South Africa.
The organisation undertakes and applies directed research and
innovation in science and technology to improve the quality of
life of the country's people. Building measurable value into its
work through local and international partnerships remains a key
component of its endeavours to provide world-class technology.
The CSIR is committed to supporting innovation in South Africa
to improve national competitiveness in the global economy.
Strengthening the science base
The CSIR started with a major repositioning process in 2004 to ensure
that the organisation delivers on its dual-focused mandate. This entails
fostering industrial and scientific development and contributing to the
improved quality of life of the people of South Africa.
Research and development (R&D), as well as R&D outcomes as integral
parts of the research and innovation value chain, remain the focus of
the CSIR. Knowledge generation and application reside at the core of the
CSIR, structured into three groupings:
- Emerging research areas: new areas of science that the CSIR wishes to
pursue. Such areas could be unique to local circumstances or be successful
internationally and would need to be established for local competitiveness.
- The R&D core: operating units that draw together skills from research
fields and scientific disciplines to address national S&T needs. The CSIR
operating units are:
- Biosciences
- Built Environment
- Defence, Peace, Safety and Security
- Materials Science and Manufacturing
- Natural Resources and the Environment.
- National research centres: facilities of strategic importance for African
science over at least the next two decades. These currently include the:
- Meraka Institute (African advanced institute for information and
communications technology)
- National Laser Centre
- National Metrology Laboratory (The NML, managed by the CSIR, has been
established as a separate entity to introduce, maintain and promote all
national measurement standards. (Enabling Act: Measuring Units and National
Measuring Standards Act, Act 76 of 1973). It also has a strong international
component, as in order to support South Africa's global competitiveness, there
needs to be internationally acceptable measurement standards. The NML is
partially funded by the dti.)
- Satellite Applications Centre.
The CSIR Knowledge Services group will manage routine specialised and
differentiated services. Since a different operating culture is required
to sustain these commercially-driven operations, the Knowledge Services
group will be managed separately within the CSIR.
Portfolio and clients
The CSIR's portfolio includes:
- Research, development and implementation
- Technology transfer and assessment
- Scientific and technical education and training
- Policy and strategic decision-support
- Global science and technology links as well as perspectives
- Specialised technical and information consulting
- Prototyping and pilot-scale manufacturing
- Commercialisation of intellectual property, including venture establishment.
The CSIR has clients in both the private sector (micro, small, medium and
large enterprises; formal and informal), as well as in the public sector
(national, provincial and local government). The organisation also deals
with public enterprises and institutions, national safety and security
establishments, and development structures. Internationally it has a
network of clients and partner organisations as part of a global sphere
of influence on matters of technology. The CSIR liaises closely with
tertiary educational institutions. With a strong emphasis on relevant and
developmental work, it also has strong roots in various communities, and
collaborates with a wide range of donors and funding agencies.
Contact information
| CEO |
Dr Sibusiso Sibisi |
| General enquiries: |
+ 27 (12) 841 2911 |
| Technical enquiries: |
+ 27 (12) 841 2000 |
| Fax: |
+ 27 (12) 349 1153 |
| Email |
query@csir.co.za
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| Postal address |
PO Box 395
Pretoria 0001
South Africa |
| Website |
www.csir.co.za
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