The University of KwaZulu-Natal Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), invites you to an exclusive collaboration workshop connecting business, academia, and government in KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa offers a generous Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive to encourage innovation and collaboration between universities and industry. This workshop will provide a clear, practical overview of how the incentive works and how both academics and industry partners can benefit.
The workshop is ideal for:
- Academics involved in research and industry collaboration
- Industry partners investing in research, development and innovation
- Finance, research support and innovation managers
The workshop is designed to unlock research-led innovation and partnership opportunities across priority sectors, including:
- Food security and agricultural innovation
- Computing, data science and quantum technologies
- Banking and financial services innovation
- Green energy and sustainable solutions
- Pharmaceutical and health-related research
- Public policy, governance and social innovation
- Education, skills development and human capital innovation
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a leading research-intensive university committed to advancing knowledge that drives innovation, development and social impact. Through its four Colleges — Agriculture, Engineering and Science; Health Sciences; Law and Management Studies; and Humanities — UKZN delivers research that addresses real-world challenges at local, national and global levels. UKZN’s research spans food security, climate resilience, digital technologies, public health, pharmaceutical innovation, governance, economic development, education, social transformation and sustainable growth. By combining scientific excellence with social insight, the University fosters collaborative partnerships that translate research into practical solutions for industry, government and communities.
What is the DSTI R&D Tax Incentive?
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) offers a Section 11D R&D Tax Incentive, which allows companies to claim a 150% tax deduction on qualifying research and development (R&D) expenditure. This incentive encourages industry to invest in research partnerships with universities and research institutions.
The R&D Tax Incentive is a government tax benefit that encourages collaboration between universities and industry by supporting research and development activities.
Industry partners can benefit by:
- Claiming a 150% tax deduction on qualifying R&D costs
- Writing off R&D equipment faster over three years (50% in year 1, 30% in year 2, 20% in year 3)
Academic researchers contribute through scientific and technological research, while industry applies this knowledge to develop new or improved products, processes or systems.
The research does not need to be successful to qualify, as long as it involves genuine scientific or technological R&D.
What Activities Qualify?
- Scientific R&D: Experimental or theoretical work to generate new scientific knowledge (typically laboratory-based)
- Technological R&D: Applying knowledge to develop or improve products, processes, devices or systems (often industry-based)
Eligible expenditure may include:
- Salaries and wages
- Materials and consumables
- R&D equipment and buildings
- R&D overheads
- R&D-related contracts
What Will the Workshop Cover?
- Overview of the R&D Tax Incentive framework
- Eligibility criteria explained in plain language
- How academics and industry can collaborate effectively
- Q&A session with experts
- Research taking place at UKZN
University–Industry R&D in Practice
- A company partners with a university research team to solve a technical problem or develop a new or improved product or process.
- Academic researchers conduct scientific or technological R&D (e.g. laboratory work, testing, prototyping, data analysis).
- The company funds the project and applies the research outcomes in its operations.
- The company may claim the R&D Tax Incentive on qualifying R&D costs, while academics gain industry-linked research, publications and student training opportunities.
Who Should Attend?
- University researchers and research offices
- Industry R&D, innovation and finance teams
- Companies partnering with universities
- Anyone involved in applied research and innovation