. Develop the innovation capacity of the National System of Innovation (NSI), thereby contributing to socio-economic development; . Enhance South Africa's knowledge-generation capacity in order to produce world-class research papers and turn some advanced findings into innovative products and processes; . Develop appropriate science, technology and innovation (STI) human capital to meet the needs of society; . Build world-class STI infrastructure to extend the frontiers of knowledge, train the next generation of researchers, and enable technology development and transfer, as well as knowledge interchange; and . Position South Africa as a strategic international research, development and innovation (RDI) partner and destination through the exchange of knowledge, capacity and resources between South Africa, the region and other international partners, thereby steering the NSI.