Staff Reporter
THE National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) continues to grapple with institutional and financial challenges, including heavy reliance on external funding, insufficient staffing and limited specialist research capacity.
This was among the key challenges highlighted in the National Council’s Report of the Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development.
According to the report, the Commission has made some progress over the years, including supporting innovation and research capacity through an incubation centre, postgraduate and postdoctoral recruitment, and an online research funding management system.
“Despite progress, NCRST faces significant institutional and financing constraints. The National Research Fund lacks a sustainable levy mechanism and remains reliant on external funding, raising concerns about long-term sustainability and the influence of external funders on national research priorities,” the report noted.
Against this backdrop, the report continued, the NCRST considered the possible introduction of a research and development levy, as well as incentives for companies that establish R&D capacity in Namibia.
The report also revealed that staffing and specialist research capacity remain inadequate. Although additional funding has enabled recruitment and temporary appointments, the Commission acknowledged that its policy advisory function has historically lacked sufficient dedicated researchers.
“This limits its ability to consolidate research from universities and other institutions into independent, evidence-based policy advice,” the report added.
The Standing Committee also identified legal and governance challenges arising from the NCRST Act and its regulations. These include issues relating to the definition and scope of research, research permits, sampling, overlapping regulatory responsibilities, and the separation of funding and regulatory functions.
“The Committee raised concerns that the proposed definition of research, limited to knowledge pursuit akin to university research, could exclude professionals such as lawyers, accountants and parliamentarians who conduct research to inform their work. The definition and regulation of sampling were also described as insufficiently clear and overly broad. The Committee noted the need for legislative reform and clearer institutional responsibilities,” the report continued.
The Standing Committee also disclosed that Namibia continues to face a shortage of accredited laboratories, constraining research, postgraduate training, grant applications, and the development and protection of locally generated intellectual property.
“Limited structured engagement between industry, universities and government further contributes to skills mismatches and weak commercialisation of research,” the report continued.
Considering this, the Standing Committee therefore called for stronger coordination, international cooperation, increased domestic funding, improved infrastructure, and enhanced policy capacity to translate Namibia’s considerable research and innovation potential into tangible national development outcomes.
The Committee recommended that the NCRST collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, as well as relevant institutions, to strengthen institutional capacity for research, innovation and technological development by prioritising increased domestic funding, improved infrastructure and enhanced policy coordination.
The Standing Committee also called for the Education Ministry to urgently review and renew the expired priority research areas and develop sustainable domestic research financing mechanisms, including consideration of a research and development levy.
“The Committee recommends that NCRST strengthen collaboration with schools, universities, industry, regional councils, constituency offices and communities to align research and innovation with local and national development priorities,” the report added.
The Standing Committee also recommended that the Education Ministry and the Research Commission develop structured industry-university partnerships so that research, training and curricula respond to current and future skills requirements. Furthermore, the Committee called for the Education Ministry, the Research Commission and relevant stakeholders to urgently review and amend the Research, Science and Technology Act and its regulations to clarify research requirements, resolve regulatory overlaps, and strengthen NCRST’s policy advisory role.
“The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture and NCRST commission targeted research into high learner failure rates and broader education outcomes to strengthen evidence-based interventions,” the report added.
The Standing Committee also suggested that the National Council should explore how the Russia–Namibia Friendship Group can support national institutions in advancing science, technology and innovation, and in preserving indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.
The Standing Committee also recommended that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology accelerate AI and digital transformation programmes, including the integration of AI, computational thinking and robotics into education, while supporting appropriate governance and oversight.
The Standing Committee also recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform coordinate with NCRST and institutions such as the University of Namibia (UNAM), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), and IUM to establish an appropriate seed certification mechanism for standardising seed germination rates, disease resistance and agricultural research outputs.
The Committee also recommended that the NCRST and relevant ministries strengthen the national system for laboratory accreditation to reduce reliance on foreign laboratories and support local research, postgraduate training and innovation.
“The Committee recommends that NCRST strengthen mechanisms for documenting, protecting and commercialising indigenous knowledge in collaboration with communities and relevant authorities, ensuring appropriate access and benefit-sharing,” the report added.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
