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The relationship with the European Union is one of South Africa’s most strategic partnerships in international science and technology relations. The European Union and South Africa enjoy a privileged partnership marked by long-standing political, economic and development cooperation ties. Results of collaborative initiatives have been recognised as not only significantly contributing to enhancement of the international knowledge base and human resource development, but also contributing markedly to improving the quality of lives of both South Africans and Europeans.
The environment
In 1996, the South Africa (SA) and European (EU) governments concluded the Agreement on Science and Technology (S&T) Cooperation. The 1999 bilateral Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement, also contributed to strengthening this partnership. SA-EU development cooperation activities are also undertaken within the scope of the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD) in SA. SA also has a number of bilateral and multilateral S&T cooperation agreements with third countries, including individual EU member states, EU candidate and associate member states. Integral to these relationships is the role of S&T as a key component of the overall relationship between SA and the EU. SA’s cooperation with the EU also incorporates Africa – EU programmes; Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) – EU relations; South-South and South-North cooperation; international S&T policy forums; global sustainable development agenda, and global S&T projects.
S&T and aeronautics
Since SA’s democratisation in 1994, the country has engaged in numerous initiatives to promote S&T which have culminated in the release of the SA’s National R&D Strategy in 2002. This strategy identifies a number of S&T missions to be supported by implementation strategies. Of specific importance to the aeronautics sector is the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) which has been developed in support of specific sectors. The implementation of the AMTS in support of aeronautics is done in accordance with the ASSEGAI “A Strategy for a Sustainable, Economical and Growing Aerospace Industry” in which key technology platforms and interventions were identified and various strategic drivers, as well as challenges faced by the SA aeronautics industry due to structural changes in both the global and domestic economies, highlighted. ASSEGAI provides an initial analysis of the capabilities of the SA aeronautics industry.
SA has a long and proud history of aeronautics innovation and development. The SA government has clearly stated that it wants the aeronautics industry to be as healthy and vibrant as the automotive industry by the year 2014, and has a vision that by this date SA will have a sustainable, growing, empowered and internationally recognised industry. Clearly, the SA industry is becoming more integrated into the European aeronautics community through significant new developments which have been unlocked by various policies of the SA Government: the offset programmes as a result of the procurement of a fleet of Airbus aircraft for the state owned airline and strategic defence procurement programmes, and the participation by SA as a launch nation, together with six European nations, in the Airbus Military A400M programme.
There are also common aims and objectives between the efforts by the SA Government and the EU Aeronautics document Vision 2020. The goals as elucidated in the ACARE Strategic Research Agenda also find relevance in the SA strategic research and development environment.
Participation in the framework programme
SA has become one of the most successful Third Country participants of the Framework Programmes. SA’s participation in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) proved to be most successful, with in excess of 117 project participations by SA researchers.
The extent of SA participation also significantly increased in FP6 with regards to the aeronautics and space transport priority areas as members of the African Satellite Communication and Galileo Applications (AFSAGA) and Environmentally Friendly Aero Engine (VITAL IP) project consortia. SA researchers have also been successful in the first aeronautics transport calls in FP7, through participation in the Flutter-Free Turbomachinery Blades (FUTURE), Alternative Fuels and Biofuels for Aircraft Development (ALFA-BIRD) and Future Fast Aeroelastic Simulation Technologies (FFAST) projects.
Leading from various interactions, a number of topic areas for increased cooperation between the EU and SA have been identified. Read the research priorities.
To support and aid potential South African Framework Programme participants, the DST has created a number of dedicated support instruments.
- Framework Programme Seed Funding Instrument
DST is able to support the travel costs of South African researchers travelling to Europe to engage with European partners regarding FP7 collaboration. Alternatively funding can be granted to support the travel of European researchers to South Africa.
- Framework Programme Strategic Co-investment Instrument
Under this instrument, successful South African FP7 participants which do not receive full funding from the European Commission for their FP7 project costs - as is possible under the FP7 funding rules - can apply for a strategic co-investment in their participation and receive funding for part of the remaining projects costs from DST.
- IRSES Seed Funding Instrument
Under the IRSES Seed Funding Instrument, the DST is able to support South African participants (a maximum of three persons per project) in FP7 IRSES projects.
The DST periodically forges bilateral agreement with international partners and this is concretised through the signing of Bilateral Agreements. The Agreements are intended to provide a framework in which science and technology cooperation is promoted by way of facilitating a set of activities that will include the following:
- Joint research projects, normally per submission of joint proposal on the basis of a joint negotiated and agreed on "Call for Proposals";
- Flagship projects in line with national priorities;
- Joint flagship projects as identified in the signed "Programme of Cooperation" as stated in the Agreement;
- Exchange of scientist as well as mobility grants;
- Support of workshops, seminars and conferences; and
- Support of research training courses.
The DST currently has signed agreements with 11 European countries covering a wide range of scientific areas:
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