SA's Innovation Budget Cuts Threaten BRICS Competitiveness, Warns Ambassador"

<h2>The Funding Gap</h2>

<p>BRICS Ambassador Sir Stuart Ntlathi has raised alarms over South Africa's reduced science and innovation budget, calling it a barrier to competing with tech leaders like China and India. While Minister Blade Mzimande framed the 2025 budget as prioritizing sovereignty, Ntlathi noted <strong>critical underinvestment</strong> in:</p><ul><li>AI and machine learning R&D</li><li>Cybersecurity infrastructure</li><li>Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) workforce training</li></ul><h2>BRICS Benchmarking</h2><p>At the recent BRICS summit in Brazil, members emphasized:</p><ol><li><strong>Industry-focused innovation</strong> (China's AI labs)</li><li><strong>Cyber defense collaboration</strong> (Russia's threat intelligence sharing)</li><li><strong>Digital public goods</strong> (India's Aadhaar-like systems)</li></ol><p>SA's budget cuts—amid 32.9% unemployment—risk excluding it from these initiatives.</p>

<h2>Local Solutions</h2>

<p>Ntlathi proposed:</p><ul><li><strong>Sandbox environments</strong> for AI testing in retail/healthcare</li><li><strong>Streamlined policy implementation</strong> to reduce bureaucratic delays</li><li><strong>Curriculum overhauls</strong> to make STEM 'cool' for Gen Z</li></ul><p>Without urgent action, SA may miss 2030 BRICS STI (Science, Technology, Innovation) targets.</p>"