Patterns of research collaboration in academic science in South Africa

IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT SCIENTIFIC research, especially academic researc h in South Africa, exhibits low levels of inter-disciplinary, inter-institu tional and inter-sectoral collaboration. Using data from the National Resea rch and Technology Audit, this assumption was tested. Results concerning a number of indicators reveal that the accepted wisdom is, unfortunately, tru e. Collaboration is highest within academic institutions and related discip lines, but interinstitutional and inter-sectoral research collaboration is generally very low Variations among science cultures and the main scientifi c fields, however, should be interpreted cautiously as large inter-field an d interdisciplinary differences are evident.