Nstf
Government in Pretoria

The NSTF is a vehicle for your organisation to give expert input to Government policy and a platform to express the views of your management, members and employees regarding science, engineering, technology and innovation policies.
Each of these sectors has one or two representatives on the NSTF Executive Committee.
The NSTF has a proud history of involvement with SETI policy issues and the promotion of discussion about SETI matters, as well as experience since 1998 organising the prestigious NSTF Awards.

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is a broadly representative umbrella stakeholder body for organisations with an interest in science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation. The NSTF consists of a formidable gathering of expertise and experience. It is also registered as a non-profit organisation (registration number 92042) with the Department of Social Development, in compliance with the Non-Profit Organisation Act, No. As a result of findings and recommendations of the NSTI, government together with other key stakeholders founded the NSTF in 1995 to oversee implementation of the recommendations. Aims of the NSTF: The then-Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Mr Ben Ngubane, recognised the body as a science, engineering and technology (SET) forum for consultation and addressing SET issues within the broad SET community. The NSTF was established to oversee the restructuring of South Africa’s national science system and to ensure an integrated approach to science and technology. The mandate given to the NSTF was to act as the sounding board, communication channel and constructive watchdog of SET in South Africa. Ongoing support from the Department of Science and Technology and all stakeholders: The NSTF has continued to enjoy support from the Ministry and Department of Science and Technology. There has also been continuous support from stakeholders at all levels, from the smallest of businesses to the largest science councils and universities. The seven sectors elect representatives to the Executive Committee, which meets about seven times a year. The Executive Committee/Board has an oversight role and takes fiduciary responsibility for the non-profit company. There are six directors on the Board of Directors of the Non Profit Company. The Directors and the other members of the Executive Committee, are the following. All projects are typically collaborative in nature and national in their reach. The NSTF has touched the lives of many young South Africans and communities through youth and public outreaches and activities. The topics are of cross-cutting relevance to the SET community. The information is taken from a wide variety of sources to give readers a monthly overview of the SET landscape. The project has been running since 2008, resulting in NSTF Awards winners sharing their knowledge with thousands of young people. Some of these first-year students are awarded bursaries or helped to access bursaries. Our bursary directory keeps learners and students updated with available science-related bursaries. This initiative was started with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the DST funding in It also evaluates the convergence of ICTs for community informatics. Evaluations: All activities are reviewed regularly during committee meetings and monitored with participant evaluation forms. Activities included the employment and payroll management of all volunteers nationally.