Charting a course for science and technology: who is the pilot?

Summary form only given. The advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 brought with it an agenda of fundamental reform, at political, social and economic level. The major benficiaries of this environment and how they benefit are outlined and this forms the background against which the state invests in science. It does this through the traditional dual funding route. The question then is how to steer this investment toward social goals? Thus far no less than five approaches have been employed to shift direction and accountability. These are briefly reviewed and the fifth one is described in more detail-the establishment and implementation of the Innovation Fund, a device that seeks to promote a national system of innovation links through competitive funding. The Fund is modelled on that in Australia and is now in its fourth cycle of operation. Projects are selected by a combination of expert review and social-political-economic benefit, and are then continuously evaluated by the same expert reviewers