CSIR Achieves 94% of Targets, Records R3.54 Billion in Operating Income
Marking 80 years of scientific excellence, the CSIR reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation, supporting industrialisation, and contributing to South Africa’s development priorities.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has released its Annual Report for the 2024/25 financial year, showcasing strong performance, financial growth, and continued impact across key sectors. Marking 80 years of scientific excellence, the CSIR reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation, supporting industrialisation, and contributing to South Africa’s development priorities.
According to the report, the organisation recorded an 11% increase in total operating income, rising from R3.17 billion in 2023/24 to R3.54 billion in 2024/25. Private sector income grew by 7%, while international income increased by 10%, reflecting the CSIR’s growing partnerships both locally and globally. The report also revealed that the organisation achieved or exceeded 29 of its 31 key performance indicators (94%), highlighting its consistent delivery against strategic objectives.
Among the year’s notable achievements were an 11% increase in localised technologies, a 17% rise in joint technology development agreements with industry, and a 22% growth in projects implemented for government and state-owned entities. The CSIR also recorded a 31% increase in the number of chief researchers and achieved a net profit of R40.62 million, surpassing a projected loss of R67.6 million.
The organisation continued to strengthen its technology commercialisation efforts, signing 12 new license agreements with industry partners. Key innovations such as MycoSure, Stratafy, and Herbathone™ advanced closer to market readiness, reflecting a maturing innovation pipeline and stronger collaboration with the private sector.
In terms of governance and transformation, the CSIR maintained its Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) rating and received a clean audit opinion from the Auditor-General of South Africa for the 15th consecutive year. These achievements underscore the CSIR’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive growth.
The organisation’s workforce grew to 2,298 employees, with 70% in science, engineering, and technology roles. Notably, 73% of these staff are black South Africans, and 40% are female, reflecting the CSIR’s ongoing efforts to build a diverse and future-ready workforce through initiatives such as the Accelerated Researcher Development Programme.
CSIR Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Thulani Dlamini, highlighted that the organisation’s strategy continues to deliver measurable impact. He reaffirmed the CSIR’s focus on addressing South Africa’s most pressing developmental challenges—poverty, unemployment, and inequality—through innovation and collaboration with government, academia, and industry.
“Our strategy has yielded significant results in forging deeper partnerships with industry, government, and higher education institutions. The breadth of our work, from predictive models for elections to frameworks for transforming taxi ranks into economic hubs, illustrates our alignment with national priorities.”
– Dr. Thulani Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer, CSIR
Overall, the report positions the CSIR as a key national science and technology partner, driving sustainable growth, supporting government initiatives, and enhancing South Africa’s competitiveness through research, development, and innovation.
