CSIR Celebrates 10 Years of R&D

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa's central and premier scientific research and development organization, is celebrating its tenth year of R&D in the nanotechnology field.

The CSIR’s National Centre for Nanostructured Materials (NCNSM) was launched in 2007 as part of the implementation of government’s national nanotechnology strategy. Nanotechnology research is a key pillar of the CSIR’s activities, focused on finding solutions that address the broader societal challenges of South Africa.

In the last decade, the center has undertaken innovative research on nanostructured materials and established an extensive research network with key local and international research organizations. The center is well equipped with cutting-edge scaling up, polymer processing, characterization and testing facilities. It is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Other achievements include a prototype breath analyzer to detect diabetes without a blood test; the setting up of the water and catalysis research groups as new research areas in nanotechnology; the polymer processing laboratory for the testing and evaluation of industrial samples; and the development and establishment of the Nanomaterials Industrial Development Facility in 2015.

“Research and development at the nano center supports the manufacturing of bulk materials with improved properties, such as plastics, that are able to tolerate very high and low temperatures and plastics that possess fire retardant properties or high resistance to tearing,” said Suprakas Sinha Ray, CSIR chief researcher. “This includes the development of detection devices that use nanomaterials capable of detecting gases at parts-per-million levels with greater sensitivity and accuracy.”

Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research, technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of the country’s people.