NSTF is born: NSTF is founded to oversee the establishment of a democratic and inclusive science system (later to be re-defined and called the national system of innovation – NSI). Initially, NSTF has a joint chairmanship, namely Mr Jay Naidoo (the first Secretary General of COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) and the then president of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr James Brian Clark. The NSTF contributes and provides input into the first White Paper on Science and Technology and other policy and planning processes within government. It initiates the discussion that leads to the declaration of SA’s first Year of Science and Technology (YEAST) in 1998.

First Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appointed: Dr Xolani Humphrey Mkhwanazi is seconded by the CSIR to build up the new organisation, NSTF. (The CSIR being a founding member of the NSTF.) At the time he is the Technology Transfer Manager, Technology for Development division at the CSIR. He is subsequently appointed as the first CEO of the NSTF. Dr Mkhwanazi serves under the chairmanship of Prof Malegapuru William Makgoba, who was the President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) at the time. Prof Makgoba went on to receive the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver in 2013. Ms Wilna Eksteen is appointed to head the Secretariat of the NSTF in April 1998. Dr Mkhwanazi is to be the first recipient of the NSTF Ukhozi Award in June 2018 to honour his contributions to NSTF as an organisation and to SA in various capacities. Sadly he is to pass away on 4 January 2020.

The flagship NSTF Awards are born: NSTF establishes the prestigious annual NSTF Awards to reward excellent achievements in science and technology (S&T). The then Department, DACST, becomes the first sponsor of the NSTF Awards (a sponsorship that has continued every year up to the present under the new DSTI). The Minister of the DSTI serves as the patron of the Awards. The first patron is Dr Ben Ngubane, the Minister at the time. The NSTF Executive Committee (Exco) under the leadership of Dr Steve Lennon conceptualises the structure and criteria for the Awards. Mr Denis Hunt is appointed Head Adjudicator and goes on to lead the adjudication of the Awards annually until 2024 (26 years), as well as revisions and expansions of the categories.

SET Policies: The NSTF participates and adds considerable value to initiatives and processes relating to the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

First website: NSTF launches its first website, developed by the CSIR, listing 80 members across eight sectors. Besides DACST, other government departments and structures are included.

First newsletter: The first quarterly newsletter in print called NewSTufF is produced and circulated to members. The programme is published for the YEAST focus weeks in all nine provinces that commence 7-12 March 1998 in the Western Cape, through to 13-17 November 1998 in Gauteng. The newsletter is to continue consistently thereafter and later to become a monthly electronic newsletter.

Second CEO and Chairperson: Dr Mziwenkosi James Hlongwane takes over the position of CEO on 1 March 1999, having founded and run a dedicated school for science and technology for black learners for 13 years. He has a PhD in Immunosuppression from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and experience in pathology and pharmaceuticals. Dr Hlongwane serves NSTF until his untimely death on 14 December 2005. He serves under the leadership of the newly appointed Chairperson, Dr Steve Lennon, who is Executive Director of Eskom Strategy and Resources at the time.

Annual Report: The first NSTF Annual Report (for 1999-2000) is launched. The Report describes four major initiatives to embark on:

• S&T awareness development – resulting in the Growth & Innovation Report in 2001 in partnership with the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI)
• The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (STEAME) Initiative – resulting in a national consultative conference on science, mathematics and technology education (SMTE) in 2000 in partnership with the Department of Education (DoE) and The Ministers of these portfolios (Prof Kader Asmal and Dr Ben Ngubane respectively) officiate at the launch
• National Research and Technology Foresight Exercise to define mechanisms for implementation
• Ethics in S&T in SA: that results in the establishment of a working group with a view to creating a committee

SMTE Strategy: The result of the SMTE Conference is the launch of a national SMTE strategy by the DoE, where the Deputy Minister of Education at the time, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, officiates with Deputy Director-General of Education, Mr Ketsi Lehoko.

Education Recognition Programme: The NSTF Awards expand to include recognition of SMTE in schools and the NSTF Education Recognition Programme is born. Initially the programme recognises only top performing matric girls from all the provinces, top high school teachers, top schools, as well as STEM Olympiad and competition performers. Later, both boys and girls are recognised, and eventually NSTF focuses only on the top performers in matric physical science and mathematics.

Science and economic growth: NSTF commissions a joint study between the NSTF and NACI on the interaction between economic growth, science, technology and human capital. The resulting Growth and Innovation Report is presented jointly to the Portfolio Committee in Parliament.

An important policy role: The NSTF plays an active role in the processes to create, and review the National Human Resource Development Strategy, the National Research and Development Strategy and the National Research and Technology Foresight Exercise.

Ethics: NSTF Initiates debate and discussions on Ethics in SET in SA which leads to a discussion document and a charter that aims to establish a National Consultative Council on SET Ethics in SA.

Dedicated science and technology department: NSTF participates in the lobbying for the establishment of a separate government department that would focus entirely on S&T in SA. The structure and plans for the new DST are presented to the NSTF and its members for comment.

World Summit on Sustainable Development: NSTF receives accreditation from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) that allows NSTF members and stakeholders to register as participants under the NSTF umbrella – an offer which over 60 organisations make use of. Each organisation can register employees to participate.

Third Chairperson appointed: Mr John Marriott, retired General Manager: Sasol Limited, takes over the NSTF Chairperson position as the first leader from private industry. His focus is on continuing the building of a strong SET community, as essential for promoting development and economic growth.

NACI: The NSTF and NACI commit themselves to cooperate on issues of common interest and promoting the NSI, urged by their respective executive committees, as well as the Minister. From then on, NACI has a permanent seat on the NSTF Exco.

NEPAD: NSTF substantially contributes to the development of the S&T division of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to ensure that SET plays its rightful role on the African continent.

SET Professionals included: NSTF creates a new membership group, known as SETAG (Scientific, Engineering and Technological Societies and Allied Professions Group of SA), consisting of professional bodies and learned societies. Some of the membership of the Associated Scientific and Technological Societies of SA (AS&TS) join the NSTF under SETAG, which is renamed proSET (Professional in SET) in 2009. (This sector currently accounts for about 35% of NSTF member organisations.)

Inclusiveness: Eskom and the NRF jointly create three categories of the NSTF Awards to recognise researchers – both senior and emerging, and research capacity development. The six new awards are aimed at the promotion of inclusiveness – the four awards sponsored by the NRF are awarded to black researchers, and the two research capacity development awards are made to researchers who have supervised a large number of black postgraduate students (the latter Awards are sponsored by Eskom). Half of the awards are reserved for men, and half for women researchers. The NRF sponsorship lasts for 11 years until 2014. The Eskom partnership is to continue. In the same year (2003) the CSIR becomes an Awards sponsor (which continues to 2017).

First NSTF Awards Who’s Who in SET and innovation booklet published: These booklets, produced every year since 2004, are an extensive database of the achievements, skills and expertise of the South African NSI community. They contain brief descriptions of the contributions of the NSTF Awards finalists to SET and innovation. They are distributed at the Awards Gala Dinners and beyond, and marketed through the media.

Department of Trade and Industry: The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) managed jointly with the NRF, joins as platinum sponsor of the NSTF Awards (which continues to 2015).

Provincial workshops: Workshops are extended to other provinces and a series of workshops are held in three provinces; Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These are held during the 2005 National Science Week (NSW) and at local science centres. The topic for the provincial workshops is Technology Education.

Communication and outreach: The NSTF Awards Communications sub-committee is established (currently known as the NSTF Awards Committee) to raise publicity for the Awards finalists and winners, and profile SET professionals to the general public and the youth.

Science Councils and Statutory Bodies: A sub-committee is formed, consisting of representatives from each organisation in this membership sector, and meets 3-4 times per year.

Third leader at the helm: Ms Jansie Niehaus is appointed as Executive Director of the NSTF, and remains in this position to date. Her contribution is to make the NSTF more active and visible, lead the revision of the NSTF Strategy, turn the NSTF newsletter into a news service for the NSI community, conceptualise and lead the discussion forums held at least 4 times per year, and in general expand and improve the activities and reach of the NSTF, including to the youth, with the help of the Exco, Office Manager Ms Wilna Eksteen and staff.

Science Communication Award: The South African Agency for S&T Advancement (SAASTA), a business unit of the NRF, partners with the NSTF to introduce a new award for science communication and outreach. The SAASTA sponsorship is to continue until 2014.

Policy consultations: Discussion of and stakeholder feedback on the NSI and the DSTI’s 10 Year Innovation Plan. DSTI also presents their plans to the NSTF membership for the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Human Capital Development, the Youth into Science Strategy and the Hydrogen Economy.

Fourth Chairperson appointed: Prof Brenda Wingfield from the University of Pretoria (UP) is appointed and serves for six consecutive years. At the time she is Professor of Genetics at UP and Deputy Dean of Research and Post-Graduate Studies, as well as Chair of the DSTI/ NRF South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Fungal Genomics. Her focus is the long-term ideal of spreading NSTF’s activities nationally and in doing so not only strengthening some activities, but also to better serve the sector.

Non-Profit Company: NSTF registers as a ‘Section 21’ company under the Companies Act. When the Act is amended, Section 21 companies become known as ‘non-profit companies’. Seven Directors serve as the initial Directors, namely; Prof Brenda Wingfield (NSTF Chairperson); Ms Jansie Niehaus (NSTF Executive Director); Mr Denis Hunt (Chair and Head Adjudicator: NSTF Adjudication Panel); Mr David Kramer (Civil Society Sector representative, NSTF Exco); Prof J Malherbe (Higher Education Sector representative, NSTF Exco); Dr Van Zyl de Villiers (State-Owned Enterprises Sector representative, NSTF Exco) and Dr Stanley Liphadzi (Science Councils Sector representative, NSTF Exco) and are appointed from 18 October 2007.

Unemployed SET graduates: NSTF manages the National Youth Service (NYS) programme on behalf of the DSTI for five years, benefitting 330 young unemployed graduates. The NYS provides science graduates with additional skills to enable them to find suitable employment.

Bursary management: NSTF manages the DSTI’s ‘Incentive’ Bursary Scheme for eight years to the benefit of more than 70 undergraduate students.

FESTOC: The DSTI contracts NSTF to host the Secretariat for an umbrella body of the various existing national SET Olympiads and competitions, called the Federation of Engineering, S&T Olympiads and Competitions (FESTOC).

Decade of Awards: NSTF Awards celebrates its 10th anniversary.

NSTF Brilliants Programme: This programme is based on the Education Recognition Programme, and exclusively recognises top matric performers in physical science and mathematics. Later, educational tours to SET-related sites and national research facilities are included in the programme, including a motivational speakers’ programme with role models for personal and professional development.

Media sponsor one: Business Report newspaper joins forces with the NSTF Awards as media sponsor to publicise the outcomes of the annual NSTF Awards. (Business Report is carried by The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Times and The Mercury newspapers reaching millions of readers nationwide.)

Media sponsor two: After a period of NSTF working with the Mail & Guardian newspaper to produce an annual supplement on the NSTF Award winners, Mail & Guardian becomes the second media sponsor with the focus of communicating the science behind the work of the winners.

NSTF Share ‘n Dare Programme: This programme is initiated to inspire the youth and public with the winners as SET role models.

NSTF Discussion Forums: Discussion Forums on specific topics replace the provincial workshops, as well as the twice-yearly plenary meetings.