Intent matters! This statement formed the nexus point of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Next Generation and Emerging Researchers (NGER) Symposium, which took place over three days in Gauteng from 07 to 09 October 2026.
Emerging academics (holders of NRF research grants) joined seasoned professionals and research sector leaders to reflect on the future of South Africa’s research enterprise, exploring how research excellence can translate into societal impact while strengthening the country’s capacity to generate new knowledge, develop innovation and respond to changing national and global priorities.
Under the banner: Research for a Better Society, the key question posed to symposium delegates was “How can research improve lives, address South Africa’s most pressing challenges and contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous future?”
A wide variety of discussion topics reflected the nuances of factors impacting research in South Africa today, from decolonising research; international research funding and geopolitical/technology realities; to researcher wellbeing; artificial intelligence (AI); commercialisation and transformation.
A common message emerged: research must be measured not only by the knowledge it produces, but also by its relevance to society and its contribution to a better future.
Dr Gugu Moche, Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA) at the NRF, challenged emerging researchers to consider the problems their research addresses, who benefits from the knowledge they generate and the kind of research leaders they aspire to become.
These questions place purpose and accountability at the centre of research, encouraging researchers to consider the potential value of their work for society, starting right at the inception of their research question.
The discussions reinforced the importance of developing a research ecosystem that is globally competitive while remaining responsive to South Africa’s social, economic and developmental needs.
This requires researchers to connect scientific excellence with the realities of the communities they serve, ensuring that research contributes to addressing national challenges and expanding opportunities for future generations.
A key success factor highlighted during the symposium is the ability to translate new knowledge into innovations that address the needs of a specific target market, and creating the systemic pipeline needed to bring such products to market efficiently.
The NGER Symposium 2026 reaffirmed the importance of investing in emerging researchers as a vital part of South Africa’s future research and innovation capacity.
Its theme, Research for a Better Society, provides a compelling basis to rethink the relationship between research and development. It calls for a research enterprise that is excellent in its science, inclusive in its opportunities, responsible in its practices and deliberate about the benefits it creates for society.
For South Africa, the opportunity lies in ensuring that research does more than expand the boundaries of knowledge. It must also help solve problems, inform policy, stimulate innovation and create possibilities for improved livelihoods and a more sustainable future.
Ultimately, a better society depends not only on the knowledge South Africa produces, but on how effectively that knowledge is translated into action, shared with those who need it most, and used to improve lives.
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