Sector data · Research, innovation and assessment · South Africa
South African real R&D spending fell 1.9% in 2024/25 as business investment weakened
South Africa's 2024/25 National R&D Survey puts gross R&D spending at ZAR 44.237 billion, but real spending fell 1.9%, with higher education and women researchers driving growth.
Why it matters: South Africa's higher education sector drove R&D growth in 2024/25, the department reports, in a year when business-sector investment weakened and real spending fell 1.9%.
South Africa's Department of Science, Technology and Innovation reported that the 2024/25 National R&D Survey by the HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council) showed gross R&D expenditure rising to ZAR 44.237 billion.
According to the department, R&D spending fell by 1.9% in real terms as business-sector investment weakened.
The department said the higher education sector and women researchers drove growth.
Editor’s view
Scott James, Research and Innovation Editor
For South Africa's higher education sector, the 2024/25 survey results show it driving growth even as weaker business-sector investment left national R&D spending 1.9% lower in real terms.
