South African and Swedish research foundations award over R25 million in grants
- Wits University
Wits to co-lead Communications Work Package of South Africa Sweden University Forum+ phase.
The South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) have awarded research grants to the South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF).
SASUF is a partnership between 25 South African universities, including Wits University, and 12 Swedish universities to co-create solutions to today’s challenges.
The NRF awarded 3,5 million SEK (over R6 million) and STINT, 10 million SEK (over R18 million). A total of 13.5 million SEK (±R25 million) in new funding will kick of the SASUF+ phase.
The funding decisions were announced in June and launched on 22 September 2025.
About SASUF+
The SASUF+ phase builds on a strong foundation of strategic collaboration between 37 South African and Swedish partner universities.
The SASUF+ phase focuses on deepening collaborative partnerships, promoting joint innovation, and addressing societal challenges through a ‘glocal’ approach that considers both global and local conditions.
The SASUF+ phase began in August 2025 and runs until August 2028. This phase will advance interdisciplinary research into four key thematic areas:
- Sustainable Health
- Green Transition
- Migration and Urbanisation
- Democracy, Social Justice, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
The themes will play a key role in the new Work Packages (WP) throughout the SASUF+ phase:
- WP 1: Academia, Industry, Society – Dialogues for Impact
- WP 2: SASUF+ Beyond Borders
- WP 3: Students as Gamechangers
- WP 4: Science and Education Policy – From Policy to Action
- WP 5: Communication and Dissemination
- WP 6: Coordination
Wits University and Mangosuthu University of Technology lead SASUF+ WP 5. Professor Aletta Millen, Assistant Dean: Research in the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences and Ms Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the Mangosuthu University of Technology, are the coordinators of WP 5.
This Work Package will ensure the establishment of a comprehensive communication plan to determine target audiences, key messaging, and communication channels such as online platforms, social media, academic publications, and events.
The plan will guide the outreach during SASUF+ and enable efficient dissemination of results, increase visibility, and enhance stakeholder engagement.
Speaking at the launch in September, Millen indicated that WP 5 would focus on articulating impact, engaging stakeholders, and enhancing SASUF’s visibility. Millen said that although Wits and Mangosuthu University coordinate WP 5, its ownership by all WPs is a guiding principle to ensure strategic alignment, transparency, clarity and agility throughout SASUF+.
She said that WP 5 would adopt a "digital first" approach to communications channels that target academics, government departments (to influence policy), diplomatic bodies, industry and external partners, and the public, respectively.