#NSTFawards2025

 The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) calls for nominations for the 27th NSTF-South32 Awards. These prestigious awards focus on science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa (SA). South32 is the co-branding sponsor for the past 10 years. As such the name of the awards is the NSTF-South32 Awards.

All the awards are ‘for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in SA…

This is a two-stage nomination process:   https://nstf.org.za/how-to-nominate/
No late entries will be accepted.
Please note that planning and time are required to complete the nomination documents.

Awards Categories:

1. Individual Awards

a. Lifetime Award – contribution over 15 years or more
b. TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award – contribution through research and its outputs over a period from 6 years up to 15 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA (Prize sponsor: proSET)
c. TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Awards – contribution through research and its outputs over a period of up to 6 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA (Prize sponsor: SAYAS)
d. Management Award – contribution through management of SET and innovation and related activities over the last 5-10 years in SA

2. Engineering Research Capacity Development Awards – contribution by an individual or team over the last 5-10 years

3. NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award – contribution by an individual, team, partnership or an organisation towards sustainable water management, knowledge generation and solutions over the last 5-10 years (Sponsor since 2017: WRC)

4. NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award – contribution through research and its outputs over a period of up to 6 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA, and focussed on work to enhance life and to improve the health of the community (Sponsor since 2023: South African Medical Research Council - SAMRC)

5. NSTF-TIA Green Economy Award – contribution by an individual or an organisation towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy over the last 5-10 years (Sponsor since 2023: Technology Innovation Agency -TIA)

6. Science Diplomacy for Africa Award – contribution by an individual or a team in SA, which has led to impactful solutions and/or collaboration in the SET and innovation fields, within the last 10 years, through science diplomacy between and among countries, for the benefit of SA and the African continent (Sponsor since 2024: Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa - SDCfA)

7. NEW in 2025 NSTF-Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Award – contribution by an individual or a team towards sustainable agricultural management, knowledge generation and solutions over the last 5-10 years (Sponsor since 2025: ARC)

8. Data for Research Award – contribution by an individual or a team for advancing the availability, management and re-use of research data

9. Innovation Awards – for innovations and their research and/or development

a. Corporate Organisation – contribution by an individual or a team over the last 5-10 years
b. SMME – contribution by an SMME over the last 5-10 years (Sponsor since 2019: National Intellectual Property Management Office - NIPMO)

10. Communication Award – contribution for outreach and creating awareness of SET and innovation by a team or individual over the last 5 years

11. Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Award – contribution by an NGO including technology transfer, and education and training activities over the last 5-10 years (Nominations of specific projects undertaken under the auspices of professional bodies/societies can also be nominated here.)

12. Special Annual Theme Award: Quantum Science and Technology (awarded according to criteria in any of the other categories) For 2024/2025 the award is made for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation in quantum science and technology in SA