The Committee considered the budget allocation to the Department for the 2012/13 financial year on 18 April 2012. The Committee considered the Department's 2011/12 Annual Report on 11 October 2012. Engagements with entities were also conducted during the period under review. These entities included inter alia the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) and the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).