National Advisory Council on Innovation Act, 1997 (Act No. 55 of 1997)

1. Definitions
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(1)In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—

 

"business sector"

means all persons who and institutions which conduct business for gain;

 

"chief executive officer"

means the Director-General of the Department;

 

"Department"

means the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology;

 

"government sector"

means all organs of state as defined in section 239 of the Constitution, excluding any institution within the higher education sector;

 

"higher education sector"

means universities, technikons, colleges of education and other institutions which provide tertiary education, whatever their source of finance or legal status;

 

"innovation"

means the process of transforming an idea, generally generated through research and development. into a new or improved product, process or approach. which relates to the real needs of society and which involves scientific, technological, organisational or commercial activities;

 

"Minister"

means the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology;

 

"Ministers Committee"

means the Ministers Committee on Science and Technology established by a decision of the Cabinet and responsible for advice and decision-taking on science and technology matters;

 

"NACI"

means the National Advisory Council on Innovation, established by section 2;

 

"national facilities"

means—

(a) the National Accelerator Centre;
(b) the South African Astronomical Observatory;
(c) the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory;

 

"national system of innovation"

means all sectors, and institutions within those sectors, which pursue common social and economic goals through innovation;

 

"non-profit sector"

means all private persons who and institutions which act without gain;

 

"science and technology institution"

means any institution established by an Act of Parliament with the practicing of science and technology as a substantial part of its activities;

 

"science and technology system"

means all persons who and institutions which are involved in the process of making scientific knowledge available, or which are involved in the process of converting and using scientific knowledge in order to devise or implement new applications, and which operate within the national system of innovation;

 

"science councils"

means the—

(a) Human Sciences Research Council established by section 2 of the Human Sciences Research Act, 1968 (Act No. 23 of 1968);
(b) CSIR referred to in section 2 of the Scientific Research Council Act, 1988 (Act No. 46 of 1988);
(c) Council for Mineral Technology referred to in section 2 of the Mineral Technology Act, 1989 (Act No. 30 of 1989);
(d) Foundation for Research Development established by section 2 of the Research Development Act, 1990 (Act No. 75 of 1990);
(e)Agricultural Research Council established by section 2 of the Agricultural Research Act, 1990 (Act No. 86 of 1990);
(f) South African Medical Research Council referred to in section 2 of the South African Medical Research Council Act, 1991 (Act No. 58 of 1991);
(g) South African Bureau of Standards referred to in section 2 of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No. 29 of 1993);
(h) Council for Geoscience established by section 2 of the Geoscience Act, 1993 (Act No. 100 of 1993);

 

"sectors"

means the government sector, higher education sector, business sector and non-profit sector;

 

"this Act"

includes any regulation made under section 13.

 

(2) The Minister may, after consultation with NACI, by notice in the Gazette amend the definitions of "national facilities" and "science councils" in order to delete or substitute any institution mentioned therein or to add any institution which practises research in the fields of science and technology as a substantial part of its activities.