The state of research equipment in South Africa: towards best practice

Abstract

The article makes the point that instrumentation is critical to the science and technology infrastructure. Furthermore, it reports the results of a relevant national survey. Information is available for three groups – (i) research councils, (ii) universities, and (iii) technikons, museums and government departments as one group. This level of aggregation has been chosen in order to assist in the development of recommendations related to national policy. In addition, the state of equipment in the country is compared and contrasted with those in a number of countries abroad. Although it emerges that the Research Councils in South Africa possess the largest quantity of equipment, for the purpose of this paper, focus is given to the results of the Universities group since it is felt this provides greater ease of comparison to other developing countries.Die artikel beklemtoon dat instrumentasie krities is tot die wetenskap- en tegnologieinfrastruktuur. Verder rapporteer dit resultate van ‘n toepaslike nasionale ondersoek. Informasie word verskaf volgens drie kategorië, naamlik – (i) Navorsingsrade, (ii) Universiteite en (iii) Universiteite van Tegnologie (Tegnikons), asook Museums en Staatsdepartemente. Hierdie samestelling is gekies om te help met die ontwikkeling van voorstelle t.o.v. ‘n nasionale riglyn. Die toestand van toerusting in die land word vergelyk met dié van verskeie internasionale lande. Alhoewel dit blyk dat die Navorsingsrade in Suid-Afrika die grootste hoeveelheid toerusting besit, vir die doel van hierdie dokument, is daar klem gelê op die Universiteitsgroep, omdat dit beskou word as meer vergelykbaar met die situasie in ander ontwikkelende lande.