The 10th meeting of the South Africa-European Union Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee meeting took place in Brussels on 8 December 2011. Co-chaired by DG Research Director General, Robert-Jan Smits, and Phil Mjwara, the Director General of the South African Department of Science and Technology, the meeting reconfirmed the excellent level of cooperation, which have made science and technology cooperation one of the flagships of the South Africa-European Union Strategic Partnership.

South Africa highlighted its focus on finalising implementation plans for the grand challenges prioritised in its Ten-Year Innovation Plan, which would spell out specific focus areas for SA-EU cooperation. On the other hand, the European Commission indicated that their Innovation Union policy would be one guiding principles for the work of the Directorate General Research and Innovation.

Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation and continue a regular policy dialogue in science, technology and innovation, in the light of the rich scope for mutually beneficial learning to be gained from these exchanges. Both sides agreed that South Africa and the European Union shared a significant number of science and technology policy priorities and challenges, especially with regard to harnessing innovation for economic competitiveness and increased social cohesion.

The next meeting will be taking place in Pretoria in November 2012 and will be the opportunity to celebrate the 15th year since the entry in force of the EU-SA S&T agreement.