Minister advocates for more women in sci-tech
SA won’t reach its full potential if women remain excluded from science, tech and innovation opportunities, says Blade Nzimande.
Minister Blade Nzimande has warned that South Africa will not achieve its full potential unless women and girls are given equal opportunities in science, technology and innovation. At the 23rd South African Women in Science Awards, Nzimande emphasized the importance of addressing persistent structural inequalities in the country's science system.
While progress has been made in increasing the representation of women in academia, research, and university enrollments, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles and key STEM fields such as engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence. The Minister also pointed out that early-career researchers face numerous barriers, including heavy teaching loads and limited research time, and female-owned tech enterprises often struggle to secure funding.
To tackle these issues, Nzimande pledged that his Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Technology Innovation Agency will provide targeted seed funding, incubation, and venture capital to female-led technological enterprises. He stressed that transformative change must go beyond academic achievements and extend to intellectual property, patents, and global market leadership.
The SAWiSA 2026 theme aims to significantly increase women and girls' participation in STEM over the next decade.
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