The science and technology cooperation between France and South Africa commenced with the signing of a general agreement on cooperation in the fields of Education, Sport, Culture and Science. A highlight of the ongoing cooperation was the signing of a Science and Technology Agreement on 28 February 2008 during the state visit of the French President, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, to South Africa.
Both countries agreed that the level of cooperation between them should be elevated through specific projects in national priority areas. The SA-France ICT (SAFeTI) Network and the South African-French Safe Water Programme were identified to serve this purpose. This saw increased research participation by the Department of Science and Technology, the Water Research Commission and the Meraka Institute, as well as French research institutions and the French Embassy in South Africa.
The call for S&T research proposals has resulted in 93 projects being supported, mostly in Natural Resources, Life Sciences, Engineering, New Materials, Health Sciences and Physics. The 2008 call for proposals was extended to the SADC science community, which clearly demonstrates France's commitment to broadening its collaboration in the region.
DST and the French Embassy are discussing new areas for cooperation, for example: Space Technology; Nanotechnology; Synchrotron Facilities; Geosciences; Applied Mathematics; Biodiversity and Sustainable Development; Astrophysics of Very High
Energy; and Rock Art, combined with the usage of the synchrotron facility in France for dating purposes.
Cooperation in Nanotechnology is receiving special attention, including the hosting of workshops, exhibitions and strategic research projects. On 20 May 2008, the French Embassy and the Department of Science and Technology opened an exhibition showcasing Nanotechnology in South Africa. The exhibition was called "Nano Expo: A new dimension to technology" and consisted of posters, objects, experiments, films and interactive programmes integrated on separate terminals.
The F'SATIE partnership between the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tshwane University of Technology
F'SATIE is a French-South African Graduate School in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, founded by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). F'SATIE is managed by a management board comprising founding members and representatives of institutions of higher learning and industry. Recently, the Director-General of DST was nominated to serve as board member.
The overriding objective is to promote high-level human resource development in scarce skills areas, especially among previously disadvantaged students, thereby contributing to the national priorities identified in the ASGISA (Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa) and JIPSA (Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition) programmes.
In recent years F'SATIE has developed, in association with TUT, a skills development programme in electrical and electronic engineering, with a particular focus on advancement at postgraduate level. Students with potential are identified at undergraduate level and are supported throughout their studies. At all levels, a strong emphasis is placed on innovation and entrepreneurship, with students benefiting from strong linkages with industry as well as from international collaboration with partners in France.
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has been identified by DST and the French Embassy as an ideal institution to implement the extension of
F'SATIE in a dual programme. This programme will attract the best undergraduate students, and is aimed at retaining them and ensuring that they proceed with postgraduate studies.
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