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A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614104147984384 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ward, Margaret Helen |
| author2 | Mouton, Johann |
| author_browse | Mouton, Johann Ward, Margaret Helen |
| author_facet | Mouton, Johann Ward, Margaret Helen |
| author_sort | Ward, Margaret Helen |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135568 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:43.557Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135568 A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 Ward, Margaret Helen Mouton, Johann Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Centre for Science and Technology Mass Communication. Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Ward, M. H. 2026. A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/e2b3d0c8-1935-4583-bd7c-24c9c303d41f This study reviews the performance of a science council-based research centre against the context of the developing field of nanotechnology in South Africa. It considers the overall performance of the Centre between the time of establishment in 2007/8 until it was restructured in 2018/19, and was undertaken using case study methodology in order to triangulate results. The development path and impact of the Centre are reviewed through document analysis and interviews with centre staff and the relevant DSTI staff. The performance review includes a bibliometric study of the Centre’s outputs. The study initially examines eight papers on the development of nanotechnology in South Africa between 2000 and 2019, looking at the development of the field. These studies showed a limited spread of nanotechnology work prior to the introduction of the National Nanotechnology Strategy, with an increase in journal articles, citations and patents evident after the introduction of the strategy. An appraisal of the National Nanotechnology Strategy and the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 10-year research plan follows, exploring elements introduced to support the achievement of the plan goals, including measures to institutionalise nanotechnology in the academic landscape in South Africa. The targets within the plans were mostly achieved with work evident in the majority of the required impact areas, but with limited products and spin-out companies being created. Nanotechnology is therefore evidenced as being an established field in the country, but has not shown to be generating the results as expected of the strategy in terms of product creation and commercialisation. Against this background, the study considered the National Centre for Nanostructured Materials. Impact was considered through interviews of key staff in the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Centre, as well as a document analysis showing the development of the Centre. These showed the Centre’s impact to be clear in the scientific domain, with a lack of demonstrated commercialization. A bibliometric review of the Centre’s output was undertaken, showing the increase in citation impact of the Centre’s output over the years under review with national collaboration being the key form of collaboration. An analysis of the demographics of the contributing authors showed that the average age of authors had increased slightly over the reporting period and that male authors dominated the publication output. Considering the results above, it is evident that the development of the field in South Africa shows clear scientific development but a lack of commercialization flowing from nanotechnology, falling short of the expectations of the DSTI. The analysis of the Centre again shows its growth and development, and its achievement of the DSTI’s expectations in science but not in commercialization. The bibliometric review further showed a growth in excellence of the scientific outputs over the time under review with little evidence of industry interactions. Doctoral 2026-04-01T14:02:00Z 2026-04-01T14:02:00Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135568 en Stellenbosch University 276 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Ward, Margaret Helen A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title | A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title_full | A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title_fullStr | A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title_short | A Case Study of the Performance of The DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, 2007/8 – 2018/19 |
| title_sort | case study of the performance of the dst csir national centre for nanostructured materials 2007 8 2018 19 |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135568 |
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