Department of Science and Innovation

{{Short description|Department of the South African government}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use South African English|date = November 2023}}

{{Infobox government agency

| agency_name = Department of Science and Innovation

| nativename = {{collapsible list

|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;padding-left:2.5em;font-size:85%;

|liststyle = text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;

| {{small|{{nobold|10 other official names:}}}}

| {{native name|af|{{small|Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|nr|{{small|UmNyango weSayensi neTheknoloji}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|xh|{{small|Isebe leNzululwazi kunye nobuChwepheshe}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|zu|{{small|umnyango weSayensi nobuChwepheshe}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|ss|{{small|Litiko leteSayensi neTheknoloji}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|nso|{{small|Kgoro ya Saense le Tegnolotši}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|st|{{small|Lefapha la Saense le Theknoloji}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|tn|{{small|Kgoro e e mabapi le Saense le Thekenoloji}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|ts|{{small|Ndzawulo ya swa Sayense na Theknolojia}}|fontsize=68%}}

| {{native name|ve|{{small|Muhasho wa zwa Sainsi na Thekhinolodzhi}}|fontsize=68%}}

}}

| formed =

| jurisdiction = Government of South Africa

| headquarters = Brummeria, Pretoria

| region_code = ZA

| budget = {{ZAR|9.145 billion}} (2022/23){{Cite web |title=DSI 2022-23 Annual Report |url=https://www.dst.gov.za/index.php/documents/annual-report/48-dsi-2022-23-annual-report/file}}

| minister1_name = Blade Nzimande

| minister1_pfo = Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology

| chief1_name = Dr Phil Mjwara

| chief1_position = Director-General: Science and Technology

| type = Department

| website = [http://www.dst.gov.za/ www.dst.gov.za]

| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|type=point|zoom=15}}

}}

The Department of Science and Innovation (DST; formerly the Department of Science and Technology) is the South African government department responsible for scientific research, including space programmes. The current Minister is Blade Nzimande.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dst.gov.za/index.php/minister|title=Minister|website=www.dst.gov.za}}

Much of the department's work is ultimately carried out through various quasi-independent agencies (although still usually government bodies) including:

• the National Research Foundation, which receives a substantial proportion of the DST budget to carry out various research support tasks, including supporting key national research infrastructure ("National Research Facilities"), scientific research grant administration and a student grant scheme;
• the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which acts as a quasi-privatised research and development agency with a specific focus on research of application to industry;
• the Technology Innovation Agency, which serves to provide funding to turn innovative research into commercial products;
• the South African National Space Agency, which covers space-related research and development initiatives;
• the Human Sciences Research Council, which focuses its research on human health and disease.