Management of Research Infrastructures: A South African Funding Perspective by Ramoutar-Prieschl, Rakeshnie

Chapter 1
 Background
 Science, technology and innovation (STI) provides the bedrock that is essential to
 the economic growth of a country and can be considered as the quintessential ingre
dients for the establishment of a knowledge economy (Lee, Park, & Choi, 2009).
 As aresult, considerable investments in STI are made by governments and industry,
 with the expectation that these investments will lead to social and economic bene-
fits. Underpinning STI excellence is the availability and access to well maintained
 research infrastructures (RI) that facilitates the undertaking of leading edge research
 and the training of highly skilled specialists.
 1.1 WhyInvest in RIs?
 Research infrastructures form a central and integral part of the STI ecosystem as
 depicted in Fig. 1.1. They provide a platform for the production of new knowl-
edge and innovation. The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures
 (ESFRI, 2018) notes that RI includes major scientific equipment and infrastructures,
 cyber-infrastructures (or ICT-based infrastructures), scientific collections, archives
 and structured information, and entities of a unique nature that are used for research.

The motivation and process for investing in RI is informed by national STI strate
gies aimed at advancing scientific excellence within a country with the objective of
 finding novel andinnovative solutions to socio-economic challenges. Such strategies
 thereforemustaligntointernationaltrends,policiesandgoals,suchastheSustainable
 Development Goals (SDGs) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy
 for Africa 2024 (STISA, 2024). Intentions for investing in national RI vary based
 on a country’s STI priorities. However, in principle, the goal can be described as
 follows:
 • Supporting and promoting the development of innovative solutions that respond
 to national and global challenges such as food security, clean water and energy
 security, health, poverty alleviation, amongst others.
 • Enhancing the quality of research undertaken by researchers, students, staff and
 emerging researchers through improved access to RI and equipment.
 • Developing the technical and applications expertise specifically relating to the
 capacity for operation, maintenance and engineering support of leading edge
 research. This would contribute towards addressing the skills deficit not only in
 the country but also on the African continent.
 • Inculcating a long-term planning culture relating to the management of research
 equipment. This inherently links to concepts of asset management, maintenance,
 support, training and the sustainable management of research equipment over its
 functional lifespan. Mechanisms must be in place for capital replacement and/or
 upgrade at the end of the equipment lifespan.
 • Promotingregional,nationalandinternationalapproachesthatcollectivelysupport
 the RI ecosystem.

Management of Research Infrastructures: A South African Funding Perspective by Ramoutar-Prieschl, Rakeshnie