Sasol In Society Report - Book - Page 71
▪ Other speakers that highlighted the role of business, research and government in ensuring that we
prepare and plan for a just transition and also look at available and future opportunities as we move
towards a greener economy, were CEO of the NRF, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwando; Executive Director
of the Hydrogen Council, Mr Daryl Wilson; and Dr Crispian Olver, Executive Director of the Presidential
Climate Commission.
▪ The main message from this summit was the emphasis on collaboration to ensure success of the just
energy transition in South Africa.
▪ It is paramount to ensure that constant communication and engagement of all relevant industries with
each other and the relevant research institutions of academia are continued to ensure success
of the just energy transition of South Africa.
In order to show commitment to research and innovation, Sasol and NRF committed R150 million
for the next five years for industry-linked research and innovation projects linked to just energy.
▪ This resulted in two new funding calls from the Sasol-NRF collaboration that was concluded in December.
▪ The successful candidates were notified.
Awards included:
Research Chairs
Sasol-NRF Research Chairs in Green
Hydrogen: Eight applications were received but
the following were awarded:
▪ University of Pretoria [Tier 1]
▪ University of Cape Town [Tier 2]
Sasol-NRF Research Chairs in Energy and
Power Systems Modelling: Eight applications
were received.
▪ University of Johannesburg [Tier 1]
▪ Stellenbosch University [Tier 1]
Tier 1 Research Chairs are for well-established academics;
Tier 2 is for promising up-and-coming academics.
Postdoctoral Innovation Fellowships:
Sixty-seven applications received but the
following were awarded:
▪ Green Hydrogen: North-West University
▪ Energy Storage: Durban University
of Technology
▪ Energy Storage: University of
the Witwatersrand
▪ Waste Utilisation: University
of Johannesburg
▪ Fischer-Tropsch Catalysis for PtL:
University of Pretoria
▪ In Situ Characterisation of Catalysts:
University of Cape Town
Through these exciting new initiatives, Sasol is clearly supporting research excellence and critical
skills development towards a just energy transition.
While we continue to create tertiary education
opportunities and build human capital for
the future needs of industry and the country,
it is imperative for us to embed graduate
development, enterprise and entrepreneurship
development that will enable our graduates to
make successful transitions into the dynamic
world of work, ensuring meaningful participation
in the economy. We are optimistic that as
the higher education sector reimagines postschool education globally, our local universities
will inter alia, speed up the process to adapt
the curriculum to meet industry needs, and
adopt new technologies that will ensure the
development of a highly skilled and relevant
future workforce.
Working with the National System of Innovation,
we endeavour to advance our support for
research and innovation to accelerate the
development of green economy skills that
will address our energy challenges and create
sustainable communities.
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