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Funding Sources
The
Water Research Act makes provision for a Water
Research Fund, which derives its income mainly from levies
on water made available for various uses. Diversification
of income sources is gaining momentum, with the main
other source being income derived from research fund
management on behalf of specific sponsors and donors.
Funding Streams
The WRC's research
portfolio has funds allocated to research in the following
categories:
The WRC’s investment in research and development (R&D)
is mainly through research projects and programmes in the solicited and
non-solicited categories. Research
proposals are invited on an annual basis in these two categories only, in
accordance with the WRC’s annual funding cycle.
The annual ratio of solicited to non-solicited research funds may differ between KSAs and also within each KSA according to the changing
strategic needs of the KSA and the WRC’s overall objectives.
Consultancy research agreements
are usually initiated from within the WRC. There is no formal call for proposals
in this category.
Solicited Research
The purpose of soliciting research is to proactively and strategically direct research and development into areas of greatest need or greatest potential impact. Solicited research mainly takes the form of relatively large projects or programmes which address medium to long-term needs. In the case of such large projects or programmes, which may extend over a period of several years, there is a preference for the research to be undertaken by consortia rather than individual organisations.
Solicited research projects are mostly non-targeted, i.e. any organisation or consortium of organisations, which considers itself qualified, has an equal opportunity to put in a bid to undertake the research. It is conceivable, however, that some solicited research projects may, in exceptional circumstances, be
targeted, i.e. assigned to specific research providers who may have exclusive skills to do the necessary research.
Calls for proposals for solicited research are issued annually for a given annual funding cycle and are accompanied by Terms of Reference (ToRs) to which proposers of research are required to adhere closely. The ToRs align the research with the strategic objectives of a particular Key Strategic Area (KSA) and are intended to be clear and specific.
Non-solicited Research
Non-solicited
research proposals provide the opportunity of accommodating,
within the KSA thrust or preferred programme areas,
promising and relevant research based on innovative
thinking and with the potential to yield applicable
and beneficial results. Proposed projects in this category
are typically smaller than those in the category for
solicited research; they extend over a period of one
to three years and may be undertaken by a single organisation
or by a number of collaborating organisations.
Calls for proposals for non-solicited research are issued
annually for a given annual funding cycle. They are
accompanied by clear guidelines for preparation of proposals.
All proposals must adhere closely to the guidelines
and should be submitted, via the Internet, after completing
a prescribed electronic submission form.
Consultancies
Consultancies refer
to short-term investigations (6-12 months maximum) which
are crucial, urgent or exploit windows of opportunity
and which have total budgets not exceeding R200 000.
There is no annual call for proposals for consultancies
- proposals should first be discussed
with a research manager within the relevant KSA, who
will carry out an initial evaluation. The proposal will
then be further considered by a KSA team, and approved
by the KSA Director.
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Funding