Global energy and chemicals company Sasol has, through its Foundation and Research & Technology function, entered into two cooperation agreements with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to jointly sponsor and support South Africa’s next generation of science and engineering researchers.

The first agreement relates to the joint implementation of the NRF-Sasol Foundation Scholarship Programme, which aims to bolster the number of science researchers from historically disadvantaged universities, as well as black and/or female scientists and those living with disabilities.

Since 2011, the scholarship programme has sponsored more than 300 postgraduate students and produced more than 500 peer-reviewed research publications.

The NRF-Sasol Foundation Scholarship Programme’s target is to sponsor at least 102 candidates over a three-year period from 2022, with nearly half of them being Master’s and Doctoral students.

The second agreement is with Sasol’s Research & Technology function and pertains to a dedicated industry-academia research collaboration. It aims to provide funding and strategic support such as assistance with research focus and direction and for research in science and engineering areas that can enable South Africa’s energy transition, as well as the development of its green economy.

The intention of the second agreement is to enhance the research capacity of South African tertiary institutions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, thereby addressing some of the key scarce skill gaps identified by the NRF. Sasol Research & Technology will also provide support in the form of student and research department mentoring and industrial exposure, the companies said.

“The NRF acknowledges the significant contribution these agreements will make to enhance excellence in research, and especially the significant impact on the transformation of the South African research and education system. These programmes, and our partnership with Sasol, attest to our mutual intention to support and foster a globally engaged cohort of exceptional researchers and students in collaboration with industry,” says NRF CEO Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo.

“The scale and complexity of the transformation necessary in South Africa's education sector is such that no organisation can achieve it alone. We need strategic partnerships and collaborations to effectively address these challenges,” adds Sasol human resources and stakeholder relations executive VP Charlotte Mokoena.

Sasol and the NRF in September issued a joint call for research proposals. Submissions closed at the end of October.

The recipients will be announced by December 13.