SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SIGNED BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND SWEDEN

Issued by: Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

25 November 1999

Cape Town - Dr Ben Ngubane, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology today signed an agreement with Mr Lars Engquivst, Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden, concretising the implementation of future initiatives in the science and technology field between the two countries. In fiscal terms the agreement will benefit South Africa on a scale of approximately three to one, with South Africa putting in about three million Krona and the Swedish government ten million in the first year.

Dr Ngubane commented that the benefits of the agreement were far broader than its financial implications and stressed the potential of such co-operation for increasing capacity in the South African science and technology sector, particularly with regards the youth and people from previously disadvantaged communities. "We will be participating in a number of initiatives and have ensured the relevance, long-term benefits and sustainability of our programmes".

The main objective of the Implementing Agreement is to encourage research co-operation between researchers in South African and Sweden with a view to: -

• Supporting the principles of mutual beneficiality, equity and fairness;
  
• Producing new knowledge and enhancing the understanding in fields of mutual concern and relevance;
  
• Promoting research excellence and quality;
  
• Establishing a basis for long-term research co-operation between researchers in South Africa and Sweden;
  
• Contributing meaningfully to research capacity development; and
  
• Encouraging the internationalisation of South African and Swedish research institutions.

The programme aims at achieving a balance between men and women and facilitating and promoting redress, equity and research excellence with strong elements of research capacity development, especially at historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs).

Kimberley Worthington
Director: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
Contact telephone number: (021) 465 4850