The National Research and Development Strategy (NRDS) of 2002 identified the need to create ‘Centres and networks of excellence’ in science and technology in South Africa. DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are physical and virtual centres of research committed to developing novel ideas that focus on critical matters facing the South African communities. The CoEs concentrate existing capacity and resources to enable researchers to collaborate on projects that are locally relevant and internationally competitive.
The CoEs are specifically designed to accelerate delivery of appropriate human resources and knowledge capacity as well as raising international competitiveness, visibility and esteem of South African science.
You can read more about CoE's in the DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence Information Booklet.