Government funding for scientific and technological activities, 2015/2016

The Government funding for scientific and technological activities, 2015/2016 report "presents information about the Government Funding for STAs Survey (STA Survey). It is based on a survey of the expenditure and budget data of 30 national government departments that confirmed having either performed or funded STAs in the 2015/16 financial year. The report also provides information on trends and projections of STA budgets for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

An estimated R23,4 billion was spent on STAs in the 2015/16 financial year (i.e. period from April 2015 to March 2016). This amount represents a nominal increase of 6,4% from the R22,0 billion recorded in 2014/15. In real terms (amounts stated in constant 2010 Rands), STAs increased by 6,6% from 2014/15 to 2015/16. The MTEF appropriations indicate that expenditure on STAs will increase to R26,0 billion by 2018/19. The funding for STAs for the 2014/15 financial year was 1,7% of the total national government budget."