ARTICLE INCLUDES:× Supplementary material × Data set FUNDING:None Nanotechnology is a fast-growing scientific research area internationally and is classified as an important emerging research area. In response to this importance, South African researchers and institutions have also increased their efforts in this area. A bibliometric study of articles as indexed in the Web of Science considered the development in this field with respect to the growth in literature, collaboration profile and the research areas that are more within the country's context. We also looked at public institutions that are more active in this arena, including government policy considerations as guided by the National Nanotechnology Strategy launched in 2005. We found that the number of nanotechnology publications have shown a remarkable growth ever since the launch of the strategy. Articles on nanotechnology have been published in numerous journals, with Electrochimica Acta publishing the most, followed by Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. These publications fall within the traditional domains of chemistry and physics. In terms of the institutional profile and based on publication outputs over the period reviewed, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is a leading producer of publications in nanotechnology, followed by the University of the Witwatersrand -institutions that are both based in the Gauteng Province. There is a high level of international collaboration with different countries within this field -the most productive collaboration is with India, followed by the USA and China, as measured through co-authorship. Significance:• Nanotechnology as a field of research is experiencing rapid growth and there is a need to understand progress from a South African perspective. IntroductionInnovations linked to science and technology developments are believed to be promising contributors to economic progress internationally. In response to this promise, South Africa adopted the National Research and Development Strategy 1 in 2002 to enable the transition from a resource-based economy to a knowledge economy, which was followed by the Ten-Year Innovation Plan towards a knowledge-based economy 2 . This strategy was viewed as pivotal to the achievement of national goals, including enhanced economic growth, industrial competitiveness, as well as social and developmental aspirations.3 To this end, a number of targeted interventions and investments were made in specific fields of science, one of which was nanotechnology. Nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N) is now widely recognised as an area of science and technology that promises to bring many scientific breakthroughs in the coming years, which will have a meaningful impact on the economy. According to Lux Research 4 , the revenue from nano-enabled products worldwide as of 2014 stood at USD1.6 trillion -a growth of 90% in 2 years from USD850 billion in 2012. The application of nanomaterials occurs in many industries such as cosmetics, construction and electronics. It is i...
This study assessed the inventive activity through patents registered by South African researchers worldwide using the WIPO database. South Africa is the most prolific producer of patents in the African continent. In this study, the focus was on research priority areas documented in the South African government policy documents rather than the overall inventive output of the country. The research priority areas considered were ICT, nanotechnology, biotechnology, climate change, energy and health. Patents in the areas were compared with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries and Egypt. The comparison was done using the revealed technological advantage sometimes referred to as the specialisation index. It is found that the two African countries have not increased their patent share significantly and are yet to find their specialisation. It was found that while South Africa is doing well in terms of patenting compared to other developing countries, the profile of inventions being patented are not necessarily aligned with the priority areas as documented in government policy.
A scientometric analysis of selected research priority areas in South Africa was done using the Web of Science database for a period 2002 -2012. The performance of the country in the areas of biotechnology, energy, astronomy and palaeontology in terms of the publication output in these areas is compared using two classic scientometric indicators, the activity and attractivity indices. These are important priority areas as highlighted in various government policy documents and the aim was to identify if outputs in these field are corresponding with government policy. The study also identifies leading institutions in the country in terms of publication output while the performance is also benchmarked against that of the other BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) group of countries as well as Egypt.It is found that the country is doing relatively well in research areas in which it enjoys geographical advantage such as astronomy and palaeontology and compares favourably with comparator countries in all areas reviewed. In terms of the institutional profile and based on publication outputs over the period considered, the University of Cape Town is a leader in biotechnology and energy, University of the Witwatersrand in palaeontology and the National Research Foundation in the area of astronomy.
The commercialisation and everyday use of nanomaterials and nanomaterial-enabled products (NEPs) is rising year-on-year. Responsible development of nanotechnology includes understanding their potential implications on health, safety, and the environment (HSE). The health risk assessment of nanomaterials has therefore become one of the major activities of international agencies including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Environmental Protection Agency for protection of human health and the environment. Nationally, with the foresight and the leadership of the Department of Science and Innovation, a HSE programme was initiated to establish the necessary infrastructure to conduct the tests in the hazard identification and exposure assessment that are needed in the risk assessment of nanomaterials synthesised as well as NEPs available in South Africa. Here we present the advances that have been made in elucidating the different facets that are required when undertaking risk assessments of nanomaterials, i.e. physicochemical characterisation, hazard identification, exposure assessment and effects assessment. These facets are increasingly being considered throughout the nanomaterials present in the life cycles of NEPs. South Africa's research contribution to an international understanding of HSE risks of nanomaterials is highlighted and the future direction to generate the necessary information for effective risk communication and management is provided. This will assist in ensuring safer innovation of nanotechnology in South Africa and support the export of locally manufactured nanomaterials as per international requirements.
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