Petroleum giant Sasol has approved R15-million in grant funding for several strategic basic research projects at local universities and universities of technology.
This followed a call to universities in September to submit research proposals for consideration under the company’s university support programme, said Sasol research and technology senior VP Rudi Heydenrich.
Thirty-nine of the 200 proposals were selected for research grants, with the universities of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Free State and Pretoria, as well as the Vaal University of Technology, set to benefit.
Since the inception of the programme in 2005, Sasol has contributed more than R200-million towards university research initiatives, to support the procurement of essential equipment, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise among local and international experts, and support young academics to become established researchers.