The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in partnership with other government departments, industry and donor agencies have made funding available to actively pursue waste R&D, HCD and innovation, in order to move waste up the hierarchy away from landfilling towards value adding opportunities. The Waste RDI Roadmap also works together with other entities within the National System of Innovation, to unlock funding opportunities towards waste R&D and innovation, such as the National Research Foundation and Technology Innovation Agency.
The Roadmap funding is made available through a variety of different funding instruments, such as open or targeted grant calls, scholarship calls or requests for proposals (RFPs).
Funding calls align with the six focus areas of the Waste RDI Roadmap (clusters) and with the five priority waste streams. For more information on each of the clusters and sub-clusters and the identified research priorities, visit the Waste RDI Roadmap –
- Strategic Planning
- Modelling and Analytics
- Technology Solutions
- Waste Logistics Performance
- Waste and Environment
- Waste and Society
- Municipal Solid Waste
- Plastics waste
- Organic waste
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
- Waste tyres
Open calls
Open calls provide the opportunity of accommodating promising and relevant research with the potential to yield beneficial results, while still aligning with the six Waste RDI Roadmap clusters and five priority waste streams. The calls are accompanied by clear guidelines for preparation of proposals, but are open for researchers to present their own research ideas, based on current waste management issues facing the country.
Targeted calls
Targeted calls are aimed at soliciting specific research in order to proactively and strategically direct research and development into areas of greatest need or greatest potential impact as outlined in the short-, medium-, and long-term RDI Objectives of the Waste RDI Roadmap. Calls for proposals for targeted research are accompanied by Terms of Reference (ToRs) to which proponents are required to adhere closely. The ToRs align the research with one or more of the six clusters of the Waste RDI Roadmap.
Requests for proposals
Requests for proposals (RFPs) are used at times to generate reports on specific issues, necessary to inform specific activities under the Waste RDI Roadmap. The RFPs are advertised on the Waste RDI Roadmap as well as on the CSIR website.