The Human Sciences Research Council undertakes national science, technology and innovation surveys, in terms of the Statistics Act (No. 6 of 1999). In May 2019, we rolled out fieldwork in the first ever SA Agricultural Business Innovation Survey, covering 2016 – 2018 and including farming, forestry and fisheries.

Between May and August, our research team will collect data from nearly 1,700 agricultural companies, from small to large businesses.

Results were released in April 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions
Survey brochure
South African innovation support programmes

The story of SA’s innovation surveys

Effective policy-making requires high quality evidence. The Department of Science and Technology (now merged with the Department of Higher Education and Training), as a partner within the national statistics system, is mandated to oversee the collection of statistics on science, technology and innovation. Since 2002, CeSTII has performed business innovation surveys for the Department.

Previous Survey Reports

• Innovation in the South African Manufacturing Sector, 2010-2012
• Innovation in Selected South African Services Sectors, 2010-2012
• Highlights from the Business Innovation Survey 2005-2007
• Main Results: Business Innovation Survey 2005-2007
• Main Results: South African Innovation Survey 2002-2004

Briefs

• Investment in public agricultural research in South Africa: A critical review of the evidence
• Innovation in services: The potential to contribute to structural economic transformation
• Barriers to innovation: Evidence from South African manufacturing companies 2010–2012
• Can government stimulate innovation through public funding and procurement in manufacturing and services? What South African manufacturing firms say
• Can government stimulate innovation through public funding and procurement in manufacturing and services? What South African services firms say

Recent Presentations

• How much R&D and innovation goes on in South Africa, and how we know this, Dr Moses Sithole & Dr Glenda Kruss – Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, Human Sciences Research Council
• How industry/businesses can leverage CSIR platforms for innovation, Kobus Roux – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

All Tweets and slides from the 2018 Industry Associations Innovation Day 

Follow our blog  or Twitter handle (@BizInnovationSA) for updates from the SA Business Innovation Survey team.