ABSTRACT
Research, development and innovation have a crucial role to play in providing evidence, strengthening capacity for a sustainable transition in South Africa and ensuring that a robust basket of options (technological and non-technological) exists to implement more sustainable practices. This chapter assesses the National System of Innovation in South Africa seeking to understand how research, development and innovation activities are linked to sustainability. Through a framing of NSI and evidence for impact literature, we try to understand what form the current “sustainability NSI” takes in South Africa, and explore where we need to be headed by learning from some emerging niches of activity that are already on the ground.
