Can you make a profit on grant funded research? The short answer to this question is a simple "yes". If your research project finances result in a profit then the South African Revenue Services will certainly be interested as to the amount involved. With the financial year ending for most individuals on the 28th February annually, it presents an opportune moment for researchers to reflect on the finances of their projects.   

While the idea of profiting from funded research might be strange or even offensive for some researchers, consider the following example: 

A lunch and meeting was held between Dr Claire Botha, the National Research Foundation’s Programme Director of the Institutional Capacity Programme, Prof Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic the Research Office and the Faculty Research Chairs CUT Central Research Committee (CRC) on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 on the CUT campus. This meeting provided the opportunity for the NRF and the university to address the issues and challenges the NRF and grantholders of the Thuthuka programme are facing.

Minister Derek Hanekom was first appointed as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology in 2004, and the National Research Foundation (NRF) has enjoyed a close working relationship with him ever since. His appointment as Minister of Science and Technology therefore signals a continuation of this well-established relationship.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor is pleased to announce that a total of 60 new Research Chairs have been awarded to various institutions of higher learning across South Africa, during the 2011/12 and 2013/14 Medium Term Expenditure Framework. This increases the number of Research Chairs in South Africa to 152.