The Department's list of challenges that require intervention have changed in the current year to include the recommendations of the Ministerial Review Committee on the STI Landscape in South Africa and its readiness to meet the needs of the country. These changes include monitoring and evaluation of its co-ordinating role within an integrated NSI. Moreover, the need to strengthen the engagement of industry and higher education institutions in the NSI through the alignment of the NDP, the NGP and the new Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP2) to ensure South Africa's regional and global competitiveness.