Review of the National Laser

Centre Rental Pool Programme of

the CSIR

REPORT Reviewers Nithaya Chetty, University of KwaZulu-Natal Anthony W. Parker, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK Igle Gledhill, CSIR Thokozani Majozi, University of Pretoria

DECEMBER 2005

Table of Contents Table of Contents..............................................................................................................2 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................8 1. The Background.......................................................................................................10

1.1. The Reasons for setting up the Panel .............................................................10 1.2. The Constitution of the Panel ..........................................................................10 1.3. The Process ....................................................................................................10

2. Laser Science – Global and South African Perspectives.........................................12 2.1. Introduction......................................................................................................12 2.2. Some Statistics................................................................................................12 2.3. High Intensity Lasers.......................................................................................13 2.4. Industrial Lasers and Applications...................................................................14

2.4.1. Textiles ....................................................................................................15 2.4.2. Auto and Aero-space Industry .................................................................16 2.4.3. Facilities and Houses of Expertise ..........................................................17

2.5. Versatile Small Lasers.....................................................................................17 2.6. Today’s Methodology and Tomorrow’s Vision.................................................18

2.6.1. Forward look – Ultrafast Spectroscopy....................................................19 2.6.2. Microscopy ..............................................................................................19 2.6.3. Optical Tweezers (Laser Traps) ..............................................................20

2.7. Building new Strengths....................................................................................20 2.8. The changing S&T landscape in SA – Implications for Laser Science............20

3. Rental Pool Programme – General Perspectives ....................................................22 3.1. History and Background ..................................................................................22 3.2. Highlights from the RPP ..................................................................................23

4. Rental Pool Programme – Retrospective View........................................................26 4.1. Performance of RPP .......................................................................................26 4.2. Utilisation of the RPP by Users .......................................................................27

4.2.1. Highlights.................................................................................................27 4.2.2. Issues ......................................................................................................28

4.3. Management of the RPP .................................................................................31 4.3.1. General Comments on RPP Operations by NLC Staff ............................31 4.3.2. Could Technical Service be through the Laser Manufacturer? ...............32 4.3.3. RPP Administration .................................................................................33 4.3.4. Loan Period .............................................................................................33 4.3.5. Laser Ownership and Funding ................................................................34 4.3.6. General Conclusions From the RPP Advisory Board and Peer Review Panel Members........................................................................................................35 4.3.7. Staff and Future Objectives .....................................................................35

4.4. Capacity Building.............................................................................................36 4.4.1. Highlights.................................................................................................36 4.4.2. Issues ......................................................................................................38

4.5. Impact and Stakeholder Satisfaction...............................................................39 5. Rental Pool Programme – Prospective View...........................................................40

5.1. Increased Funding...........................................................................................40 5.2. Vision...............................................................................................................41

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5.3. Key Performance Indicators ............................................................................41 5.4. Rental Period and Administration....................................................................42 5.5. HEI Support.....................................................................................................43 5.6. National Laser Facility .....................................................................................43

6. African Laser Centre ................................................................................................46 6.1. General Comments .........................................................................................46

6.1.1. Research Support through the ALC ........................................................46 6.1.2. Management of Funds and Programme to date......................................47 6.1.3. Synergy between ALC and RPP .............................................................47

6.2. Prospective view .............................................................................................47 7. Recommendations ...................................................................................................49 Appendix 3: List of Interviewees .....................................................................................59 Appendix 4: Response from Prof S. Mtingwa, ALC representative.................................61 References......................................................................................................................67

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Executive Summary Laser science is growing inexorably both abroad and in South Africa. There are many examples of world class work taking place in the country, and the National Laser Centre Rental Pool Programme of the CSIR (RPP) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) are to be commended for facilitating this despite aging equipment and a limited budget. Laser science is truly cross-cutting and an enabling science, which needs to be nurtured further, especially in its transition to other disciplines such as the biosciences, medicine and engineering. The lead times for innovation and applications in industry are especially short in this rapidly changing field. Students learning the theoretical underpinnings of lasers and experimental techniques, including safety, in one discipline are in a position to make a transition to another discipline or to industry relatively easily. There is ample evidence that this programme has impacted positively on equity and redress and quality human resource development, and this trend needs to be given the best opportunity to develop further. Laser science needs a significant boost in South Africa at this point in time, and the first recommendation calls for a substantial injection of new funding. The panel envisages a contribution to the South African science base and economy over the long term, and suggests that this can best be achieved in an environment that is equivalent to that currently found in a National Facility. The recommendations below set out how this should be accomplished.

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Recommendations

It is proposed that the institutions named in brackets take the lead in initiating the appropriate action. RECOMMENDATION 1 – Increased Funding: Commit significant new funding to the Rental Pool Programme. The National Laser Centre Rental Pool Programme of the CSIR (RPP) has done an excellent job in rapidly building laser expertise in South Africa despite aging equipment and limited funds. To sustain the RPP’s future, increased funding should be applied to current research endeavours and to specific areas identified within the review. Key issues to address are identified as:

• Purchase additional lasers to satisfy demand. Furthermore, many of the existing lasers are in excess of 10 years old. A programme to replace these lasers with modern, more reliable, equivalents should be implemented with reference to areas of the RPP scientific needs. Lasers that are replaced should be retired from the RPP and disposed of safely.

• The quality and diversity of the Rental Pool Programme is impressive and must be maintained. To respond to this effectively, the RPP should investigate using increased funding to balance what its user base requires in terms of technical support and scientific expertise.

• The review recognises a need to increase the user base, for example in the biosciences, medical, industrial and engineering sectors, and this suggests a rebalancing of expertise in support of these areas to sustain a balanced science portfolio.

• To stimulate activity and capacity building, more bursaries and post-doctoral fellowships should be made available for laser science.

[DST, NRF, NLC, RPP] RECOMMENDATION 2 – Vision: The National Laser Centre must be a more visionary force for South African Laser Science. The NLC is charged with the operation of the RPP. With this comes the responsibility to be visionary and the need for NLC to develop a strategy for laser research in South Africa. The NLC must take steps to develop a strategy outlining potential future developments and opportunities of laser science and, within the context of the RPP, be attentive to the needs of the Higher Education Institutions. The essential ingredients for this to occur are to incorporate at the User Facility additional scientists already operating at the internationally recognised research level with active research programmes for which they are responsible.

[NLC]

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RECOMMENDATION 3 – Key Performance Indicators: Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) should be identified and negotiated by the National Laser Centre, National Research Foundation and user community during the proposal and renewal stages of project submissions. In order to ensure a sustainable high level of performance, Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) should be identified and negotiated by all stakeholders. Currently, there exists no KPI’s to measure performance in a reliable manner. Understanding that new and on-going projects might require different KPI’s, a differential rather than a uniform scale could be established according to the funding needs of various users, e.g. experienced versus start-up users, disciplines such as physics and chemistry versus non-technical disciplines such as biosciences and medicine, etc.

[RPP, NRF, user community] RECOMMENDATION 4 – Rental Period and Administration: A laser rental period ranging from 6 months to 3 years, instead of 1 year, must be considered on a case by case basis. The intention is to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and improve transparency, whilst retaining good peer reviewing.

[RPP] RECOMMENDATION 5 – Higher Education Institutions support: It is recommended that Higher Education Institutions give more financial and technical support for the maintenance of user RPP equipment. HEI technical workshops should be more involved in assisting researchers with routine technical problems while HEI’s should be more proactive in financially assisting with running expenses, for example in supporting student participation at the annual users’ meeting.

[RPP, NRF and HEI’s] RECOMMENDATION 6 – National Facility: The National Laser Centre should be set up as a National Facility. A National Facilitya is more consistent with the enabling environment that is necessary to ensure that laser science in general, and the Rental Pool Programme in particular, makes an optimal impact on science, technology and development in South Africa.

[DST] RECOMMENDATION 7 - African Laser Centre: The next step for the ALC is substantial shared funding sourced by African countries. a National Facility as defined by the National Research Foundation Annual Report 2004/05 page 43.

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The ALC is very relevant for African development and must be encouraged to grow. This panel recommends that the next step is the commitment of financial resources by other countries in support of the ALC. Under the circumstances of increased joint funding, the RPP would develop very naturally to include other African countries. As a high priority, it is proposed that the aims of the RPP and the ALC would be furthered if bursaries can be made available to African students studying in South Africa.

[ALC]

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Acknowledgements As members of the Review Panel, we would like to record our thanks to the many people who made our task not only possible but also very stimulating:

• The National Research Foundation, the National Laser Centre, and the management and staff directly supporting the Rental Pool Programme, who motivated and initiated this review; members of staff who made their time available in an unstinting manner,

• The Assignment Principal and the Review Reference Group who approved the Terms of Reference and appointed the Panel,

• The members of the Evaluation Centre who developed the programme, managed and coordinated the entire process, provided information and support on very short time scales,

• All those who responded to calls for information for the review, who spent considerable time in preparing material,

• All those who were interviewed, as they provided a most valuable range of inputs, and made themselves available in open and frank discussion,

• With special thanks to the members of African Laser Centre from outside South Africa who were interviewed by telephone,

• The researchers who welcomed us into their laboratories during our visits to discuss their work and answer questions,

• All the members of the audience who made themselves available at the Panel’s final presentation on 25 November 2005,

• With special thanks to Khotso Mokhele, Prins Nevhutalu, Rob Drennan, Andrew Kaniki, Phil Mjwara, Stephanie Harris, Irene Moutlana, and

• With much gratitude to Saloshana Naidoo for making flawless logistic arrangements, with great attention to detail, and shepherding us safely though our travels, in addition to the considerable preparation and assistance during the review.

Thank you!

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“Let’s cut to the chase”

Review panel: Tony Parker, Thokozani Majozi, Igle Gledhill and Nithaya Chetty.

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1. The Background

1.1. The Reasons for setting up the Panel The National Laser Centre Rental Pool Programme of the CSIR (RPP) has been in existence for the past 5 years and, as such, was due for a routine review to assess its relevance and impact on laser science in South Africa. The RPP is administered in part by the National Research Foundation (NRF) which has undergone an extensive review over the past year – so, the review of the RPP is seen to be a part of that wider process.

However, from the point of view of the RPP, the review has been urgently needed to assess its relevance and impact “so that an argument can be made for further funding to support the demand experienced by the RPP”.

1.2. The Constitution of the Panel The review panel was constituted as follows. Prof. Nithaya Chetty (Convenor), University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) Prof. Tony Parker, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), UK Dr. Igle Gledhill, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Prof. Thokozani Majozi, University of Pretoria (UP)

1.3. The Process The review was conducted from 21 to 25 November 2005. About a month beforehand, the National Research Foundation (NRF) provided the review panel with relevant documentation on the RPP as well as the Terms of Reference for the Review (see Appendix 2), written submissions from various stakeholders and key policy documents. The main part of the review involved interviews with stakeholders of the RPP which included teleconferencing with representatives of the African Laser Centre (see Appendix 3 for a list of interviewees). In addition, the panellists visited the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), University of Johannesburg (UJ), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and Rhodes University as well as the National Laser Centre in Pretoria to conduct interviews, to meet with students and to visit laboratories. Members of the User community were also interviewed at the NRF centre – these included U. Stellenbosch, U. KwaZulu-Natal, U. Pretoria and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The review covered the period from January 2001 to March 2005. The panel sought to determine the strengths, the weaknesses and impact of the RPP in terms of:

• The performance of the RPP • Utilization of RPP by users • Management of the RPP • Capacity building

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• Impact and stakeholder satisfaction In addition, the review panel was tasked with providing a prospective view for the next five years and was permitted to address long-term goals toward which the RPP should strive. The key aspects that were considered are:

• Optimal future use of infrastructure and equipment • A funding model that ensures the RPP’s sustainability and increasing funding

base • Possible expansion of the RPP to accommodate interaction with the newly

established African Laser Centre (ALC) A presentation on the key findings and recommendations was given by the review panel during the report back session on the final day of the review. A draft report was handed in to the NRF which was followed by a short debriefing session involving the review panel and key personnel from the NRF and CSIR. This report was handed in to the assignment principal, NRF Executive Director: Knowledge Management and Strategy, Dr Andrew Kaniki, on 09 December 2005.

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2. Laser Science – Global and South African Perspectives

2.1. Introduction Laser research is a major activity across the world and scientists, engineers and technologists are presently finding and exploiting new ways to use these ever more versatile tools. It is noteworthy that the 2005 Nobel prize in physics was shared by Roy Glauber for his quantum theory of optical coherence, and Theodor Hansch and John Hall for their development of ultra-high precision measurements of light – topics that are central to laser science. This chapter merely scratches the surface of this vast area of research. Here, the general field of lasers is divided into three main categories, namely, High Intensity Laser programmes, Industrial Lasers and Smaller Lasers used for local characterisation, analysis and general research tools. This discussion does not, however, cover free electron lasers (FEL) or developments such as the use of pulsed lasers as seed sources for electron injectors. For the latter the laser beam impinges on a metal target and generates tightly bunched – temporally and spatially – electrons for accelerators. Neither is there scope for reporting on attosecond pulses (that is, light that only lasts for a mere few hundred billionths of a billionth of a second) used for exciting new ways to look at temporal phenomena such as allowing scientists to get their first-ever look at fleeting phenomena like electrons whirling about an atom.

2.2. Some Statistics The following statistics will hopefully serve to put lasers into a global economic perspective.

• Worldwide laser market to cross $3 billion by 2008 - Hand-pumped lasers will make up the bulk of the market (8% annual growth) with diode-pumped, solid-state lasers having the fastest growth (14.8% annually). 1 b

• Shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems within North America rose to US$119.8 million and exports reached US$53.8 million for the quarter ending 30 June 2004. Shipments of CO2 lasers rose 50%, and Nd:YAG laser demand rose 130% compared to the same quarter in 2003. Laser cutting applications accounted for 55% of demand. 90% of the shipments were laser systems, i.e. a laser source and workstation.2

• Fibre lasers are expected to increasingly replace Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers, and will take up to 20% of the welding and cutting market by 2008. The market value is predicted to stand at US$256 million by 2008, but could be higher if strongly adopted by the automotive sector. 3

b Note, references can be found on page 67 of this document

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• The global market for laser-diodes was identified as $225 million in January 2005, with 25 companies located throughout North America, Europe and Asia competing for the business. US$11million of this market is direct-diode materials processing.4

2.3. High Intensity Lasers As with all technical terms, “High Intensity” is a relative term: here we are considering laser light pulses in the terawatt (1012 Watt) and petawatt (1015 Watt) and above range. These lasers are massive machines, giving up to mega joules (106 J) of energy output. The power levels stem from recent developments in solid state diode pumped laser systems that permit module amplification of short picosecond (10-12 s) to femtosecond (10-15 s) laser beams, and coupling chirp pulse amplification methods to overcome limitations imposed by fundamental optical properties of materials that limit transmission of intense light beams and the ability to deliver diffraction limited spots onto targets. Light-matter interactions at high intensity levels are being discussed here: literally, miniature stars can be generated (a state of matter known as plasma). This is because the electric fields created are in excess of those found within atoms. Laser beams and programmes of work cross into military applications. The main areas that dominate the global landscape range from studying the fundamental workings of matter to developing nuclear fission, and inertial fusion energy as a sustainable energy source. The science programmes can be sub-divided into military and non-military. With ever-increasing economic pressures on research, many of the big laser systems do both. However, countries such as the USA and UK have separate facilities. In the UK the Central Laser Facility (CLF) does open research, whilst Aldermaston focuses on military research. Aldermaston is under pressure to perform open research given its complement. The high power CLF laser holds the record for the most intense light source in the world. The UK, Germany and France represent the main laser research countries within Europe. At present the main institutions are represented through European Framework 6 funding through Laserlab-Europe Consortium5. Laserlab-Europe is a consortium of 17 laser infrastructures from 9 European countries forming an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative, together with one Infrastructure specialising in internet and database technologies. In view of the increasing importance of lasers and their applications in all areas of physical sciences life sciences and technologies, the main objectives are:

• to combine most of the largest European national laboratories in laser-based inter-disciplinary research, complemented by laboratories with special expertise and equipment

• to strengthen the European leading role in laser research and to improve the quality of the participating Infrastructures through Joint Research Activities (JRA) aiming at the ultimate control of intense, short-pulse laser light and overcoming technological barriers towards high power and high intensity, and

• to engage in the Transnational Access Programme in a co-ordinated fashion, providing nearly 4000 days of access for European researchers.

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The USA has several major laser facilities, the largest being the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The LLNL has dominated Intense Laser Interactions since 1972, and the latest project, the National Ignition Facility (NIF), continues in this tradition. When the last of its 192 beams is installed in 2008, the NIF will offer unique capabilities, including the most energetic of any laser facility in the world. This will be applied to a number of high density physics and hydrodynamics experiments, seeking to understand the initial steps on the path to fusion ignition. The research plays a key role in the USA Department of Energy’s “Stockpile Stewardship Program” to maintain the country’s nuclear deterrent, the major benefit being that through this route accurate modelling can be performed without the need to set off nuclear devices. A more peaceful use of the laser is to explore inertial confinement fusion’s (ICF) feasibility as a clean and inexhaustible source for commercial electric power production by inertial fusion energy (IFE). Virtually all high power laser programmes are investigating IFE in some way. Asia has also recognised large scale lasers and has active programmes6,7.. China has a Core Universities Programme (CUP) initiative, which is a 10-year programme to encourage joint Chinese-Japanese collaborations in Plasma and Nuclear Fusion. In total, 60 institutes are involved in the programme. The high density laser programme accounts for 13% of the funding and produces 18% of the research publications. It provides networking money for exchanges, meetings and student visits with Korea and Japan. Korea has recently taken the initiative to provide major funding for lasers. Historically, Korea has been involved in magnetic fusion (national programme Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research, KSTAR) and is a full member of the ITER programme providing $50 million per annum. They are trying to get more actively involved in laser research including inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Across the country there are 5 institutes involved in various forms of laser research: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), GIST, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI).

2.4. Industrial Lasers and Applications Within industry, lasers are continuing to change the way we do things. As with the high power programmes described above, the ever-increasing specifications are permitting many new areas of manufacturing methods to use lasers as the preferred tool for cutting, drilling and welding processes. In particular, laser beam management and delivery through fibre optical devices and subsequent beam shaping to provide better focusing or better beam shape characteristics give higher quality results. Furthermore, greater access to pulsed lasers, giving higher peak powers, in particular in the femtosecond time domain, permit more delicate use of the laser with greater sensitivity for laser ablation through multi-photon induced processes with the potential to eliminate detrimental heating effects. As well as manufacturing, other areas are finding applications of lasers and these include Healthcare and Security applications in particular. Apart from listing all the applications, the potential of lasers to industry can be readily realized when noting the global market for industrial lasers exceeded £3 billion in 2004, with ever-increasing

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demands to be satisfied by market forces stemming from many industrial sectors such as electronic component manufacture, metal sintering, remote welding, mine clearance, and laser cleaning, as well as a host of medical (e.g. the “laser-knife” and bio-medical applications. In industrial terms, the neodymium:yttrium-aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers continue to be the work horses for micro-component manufacture. Micromachining using lasers has been revolutionary, for example, in making the complex inkjet print head and high packed multilayer circuit boards cheaply. Technical developments in diode laser systems are beginning to make them the laser of choice for applications in micro-joining and welding. The ability to achieve accurate and controllable focusing is being applied also to fabrication of optical fibres used in the telecommunication industry and the rapidly developing technology of smart sensors. Pre-treatment of specialised materials is also gaining popularity. This uses the power of the laser to, for example, anneal, clean surfaces, remove oxide coatings etc., prior to some process. On the whole, Excimer lasers are getting less attractive due to their complexity and these, including CO2 lasers, are being superseded by diode laser technology. However, the criteria of wavelength and repetition rate still need to be considered carefully and used as a means to optimise a particular process. The National Laser Centre, therefore, still needs to provide a breadth of laser options for developing and testing potential programmes. The UK is conscious of the need to invest considerable sums of money in the basic science that underpins laser technology and is keen to keep this area boiling vigorously. One pay-off of this investment is that a UK university currently holds the world record for the highest-brightness fibre lasers (over 1 kW from a single fibre in a single mode). UK universities are also at the forefront of research, for example in the creation of ‘slab waveguide lasers’. This supports UK investments in the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs) that are researching process technologies for industry8. This can be considered similar to the NLC’s programme, placing lasers in academic institutions for developing potential industrial applications at the “proof-of-concept” stage. The UK also has a growing cluster of laser manufacturers capable of exploiting advances in technology. Over all, this is a broad area, ripe for industrial exploitation. The following areas are considered priorities: research and development of next generation laser devices, such as fibre and advanced solid state lasers; advances and improvements in compact ultra-fast lasers for use in specialist micro-machining applications; design and development of advanced laser systems and their innovative use in manufacturing and other applications; improvements in laser performance and life-cycle costs that enable novel applications in new markets. Textiles and auto manufacture are two major areas of interest to South Africa.

2.4.1. Textiles Laser technology has been developed for the textile and soft furnishings business to create a hugely successful stitchless joining process. This work is being implemented

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through The Welding Institute (TWI) within the UK, and funded through a UK government DTI project for technology transfer. TWI9 has analogies with the NLC, and is a non-profit distributing company, limited by guarantee and owned by its members, mostly from industry, giving them buy-in to independent expertise in materials joining technology. The textile welding programme, Furnitureweld, has applied the Clearweld® process patented by TWI and commercialised by the Gentex Corporation for the welding of seams in a range of fabrics used within the furniture industry. Three manufacturing operations within the bedding industry were selected to act as demonstrators, attachment of the label to the mattress; joining the mattress border; welding the fabric to the wood laminate; and covering the divan drawers. Silentnight Beds® judged the processes as passing the industry standard tests.

2.4.2. Auto and Aero-space Industry The auto industry is an important area of laser applications worldwide, for example, a new research and development facility set up by Corus in Ijmuiden (Netherlands) is using 4.5 kW Nd:YAG and 6 kW carbon dioxide lasers as part of a €2M investment in researching the cost, safety, weight and 'cosmetic benefits' of laser welding and brazing10. In today’s pressure of competitive market forces, we are all too often reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s quote “time is money.” LasX Industries Inc. (USA), manufacturer of beam motion technology for cutting applications, has recently launched the ScanWeld remote laser welding system capable of displacing welds at speeds of up to 20 m per second11. The introduction of robotic laser welding for the manufacture of automotive bodies by Volkswagen has been the subject of a recent review. Problems encountered in the introduction of the technology (requirement for more precise cutting of sheet metal, burn through, etc.) are described. The technology is being embraced over traditional joining processes for its superior flexibility, accuracy and speed12. A recent report looks into novel hybrid materials in car manufacturing13. The flexibility of laser welding of different materials is important and is demonstrated by ADC (Germany) using an infrared laser. This wavelength is transmitted by plastics and impacts on the metal, heating it selectively for the joining of sensitive plastic to optical, electronic and electrical devices14. Lasers could also revolutionize the way in which we purchase our replacement parts for some items, including car parts. Computer-driven lasers that can be guided from engineering design tools are paving the way for rapid prototyping for producing three-dimensional objects directly from CAD data sources. The use of lasers to build parts one layer at a time has been defined for the processes for stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS) and direct metal deposition (DMD). It is believed that within the next ten years, rapid manufacturing techniques will be available for consumer products and may be found in car dealerships to produce replacement parts on site15. South Africa can be proud of its role in carbon dioxide laser technology. These lasers continue to show many benefits for novel designing. The TCF1 CO2 1 to 2 kW power range laser, developed by Trumpf, has an annular discharge design which gives an increased discharge area and opens the discharge gap to allow free space propagation rather than waveguiding. This results in reduced concentricity and alignment requirements and gives output powers similar to a planar waveguide with the same electrode footprint.

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But alternative powerful new laser sources are developing, for example, the high-power fibre laser built by IPG Laser of Bremen who have recently installed the first 17 kW fibre laser at the Test Centre for Aluminium Alloy Welding. The Centre will use the laser for deep penetration and high speed welding of different materials for a wide range of applications16. South Africa, as a world leader in precious metals, needs to consider ways of using lasers to process materials and give added value to the nation’s resources. In particular, the use of exotic and precious metals is important in the aircraft industry where, for example, the welding of titanium is crucial for the high temperature operation in aircraft engines. See section 3.2 for further details.

2.4.3. Facilities and Houses of Expertise As with any technology, nations at the forefront of developing laser systems that push for higher energies, tunability, etc. can be expected to seed and foster expertise more rapidly, and to spin out technologies, developing applications that ultimately feed back into ways that benefit society through the provision of public funds and healthcare. This has been shown time and time again. An example is Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), for the laser preening of metal structures using LLNL's neodymium-doped glass laser which produces 1 billion Watts of peak power in 20 billionths’ of a second bursts. Average power is 125 Watts, and the laser can produce 5 pulses per second. Compressive stresses can be induced to 4/100ths of an inch deep, four times deeper than conventional processes, leading to a lifetime extension of 3-5 times. Use of the technology to treat Rolls Royce fan blade components in over 250 engines and other components - discs, landing gears, spars, bulkheads and drive gears - is under development17. A new laboratory for the demonstration of future uses for laser marking has been opened by Sherwood Technology (Cheshire, UK). Companies wishing to license Sherwood colour change technologies to mark their products will be expected to undertake a secrecy agreement in order to have an early viewing of new laser imaging developments18. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Germany has made many innovative contributions using lasers, for example, a spiral laser-based drilling machine capable of making circular holes with far more accuracy than alternative laser cutting methods19, and repairing aero engines by direct metal deposition. This is a direct metal deposition method based on laser precision build-up welding for repair of rotors in turbines and aircraft engines. A 3D scan of the damaged component is first conducted. Software then compares it with the original dimensions and gives details for repair using a laser to melt titanium-alloy powder to reconstruct the area with layers of metallic beads20.

2.5. Versatile Small Lasers Within research, the laser fully captivates the imagination with its ability to manipulate energy across a range of dimensions -- including three spatial dimensions, precise

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quanta of energy through wavelength selectivity, and the ability to vary the rate of energy delivered by varying pulse duration from continuous to femtoseconds. The use of smaller lasers continues to grow in light of rapid developments of solid state laser sources where power relates to providing more flexibility in tuning range. Laser sources now routinely operate from UV to mid-infrared (200 to 10 000 nm). Wavelengths even beyond this range are also possible using lasers, for example vacuum ultraviolet to water-window X-rays at one extreme, to bright terahertz radiation21 at the other. Easily accessing the sub-200 nm region with lasers still remains challenging and, when done, will provide tremendous new and exciting opportunities for research and lithographic processing of 200 nm structures for the electronics industry. However, today’s broad frequency domain makes lasers superb for spectroscopic applications to use optical methods to characterise materials chemically. Most universities within the G8 countries have advanced laser set-ups, usually specialising in some form of spectroscopy. The diverse frequency capabilities can be coupled with other properties of lasers, such as various pulse widths for time resolved spectroscopy, where time itself can be used to implement and follow temporal changes to establish environmental effects on chemical, physical, or indeed biological processes. Coupling of lasers with optical microscopes has been particularly fruitful for studying fundamental biological processes, as well as in the development of areas such as nanotechnology. Many research centres are realising that it is necessary to provide a broad range of sophisticated laser-based spectroscopic and optical research tools for multidisciplinary research communities of the physical, biological, medical and engineering sciences.

2.6. Today’s Methodology and Tomorrow’s Vision With commercial laser sources now highly developed and user friendly, the modern era scientist endeavours to unravel the ever-increasing complexity of scientific problems using them. This requires a qualitatively new approach, characterised by the deployment of a wide range of analytical tools as opposed to single techniques. However, this multi-technique, multi-disciplinary approach leads to escalating costs that often stretches beyond the financial reach of individual groups. The current UK University research scene is a picture of specialised groups, usually equipped with a specific set of analytical tools. In contrast, Central Facilities such as the Lasers for Science Facility (LSF) and NLC (modelled on the former), provide an ideal platform for the deployment of multi-technique approaches at very little entry cost. This concept is indispensable for sustaining a nation’s competitiveness in world-wide research and industry into the next decade. The synergy can be demonstrated by numerous examples in the temporal domain (milliseconds to femtoseconds) or using multiple spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Over the past few years the chemistry programme within the LSF has been the major stakeholder, with particular emphasis on investigating short-lived reaction intermediates. However, the analytical techniques that have been pioneered can be directly applied to other areas as identified by Research Councils UK (RCUK) such as nanotechnology, biosciences and disease diagnosis. The Lasers for Science Facility (LSF) within the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Oxford, UK) naturally

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aligns with UK directives to exploit and deliver technology for social and economic gains. The major goals of the LSF are: • to support newly appointed academics before they have acquired their own home

based lasers • to provide specialised laser systems and expertise to complement academic

institutions and UK industry • to test the feasibility of experiments prior to major grant applications or capital

commitments • to augment peer-reviewed and grant-funded research that requires a laser or many

lasers • to provide laser systems to researchers who have intermittent need of a laser The National Laser Centre and Rental Pool Programme is modelled on very similar goals, and as such has a real potential for impact on South African Science and Technology priorities.

2.6.1. Forward look – Ultrafast Spectroscopy Ultrafast Spectroscopy probably represents the front end of academic drive. New technology offers higher repetition rates (multikilohertz to megahertz amplification systems) and greater stability, coupled with more sensitive and faster readout detectors. This will make possible the pursuit of novel 2-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) programmes, an activity presently being addressed by major players in this area. The increased sensitivity permits, for example, new ways to explore medical optical-based methods analogous to nuclear magnetic resonance and MR imaging. Tremendous opportunities for examining the dynamics of proteins and DNA would also open up. In the next 5 years, advanced lasers can be expected to increase sensitivity way beyond existing parameters. This will vastly broaden and push home the unique ‘remote’ sensing capabilities of Raman spectroscopy for biomedical science programmes where signal-to-noise is currently limiting applications. Whilst lasers are the subject of this report, detector technology can be relied upon to develop in parallel. For example, current strategies include new “intelligent” detectors that permit on-chip processing of data without the need for computer processing. Overall, lasers and detectors can be expected to have a wide impact in the development of new applications, including cell and membrane spectroscopic analysis, drug delivery, gene transfection, cross-membrane transport sciences and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) surface sciences.

2.6.2. Microscopy The coupling of a microscope with tunable continuous wave (CW) and pulsed lasers is an exciting area of activity being exploited by biologists, whereby femtosecond pulsed lasers can be used to perform multiphoton excitation below diffraction limited spots, with reduced collateral damage stemming from the use of IR instead of UV light. Going beyond the diffraction limit is also possible using multiphoton laser microbeams to mimic

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the characteristics of UV-induced cellular DNA damage. This technique is allowing the study of damage induction to cells on a submicron to nanometre scale. As the technique develops, it may permit genomic studies, so that DNA damage groups can be brought together with cell extract protein groups using the laser microbeam, so that proteins involved in individual cell damage repairs can be studied as a way to understand how cancer cells develop and behave. Time resolved techniques (μs to fs) also permit special imaging where excited state fluorescence lifetime measurements permit another way to resolve and identify cell mechanisms. (eg. FLIM).

2.6.3. Optical Tweezers (Laser Traps) Again, combining two ways to use a laser – here a laser is used to trap and interrogate micron size particles (including mammalian cells) – can be applied to (1) colloidal force measurements on multi-bodied particulate and emulsion systems, and (2) automated processing for optical trapping and analysis of particulate dispersions (microfluidics).

2.7. Building new Strengths The vast potential, particularly exploiting the newly emerging synergy between laser and nanotechnology instrumentation, represents new opportunities to create revolutionary tools. Other areas, including disease diagnosis using optical spectroscopy with lasers, are growing and much effort internationally is being directed towards developing non-invasive methods in the biosciences. The use of Raman spectroscopy is high on the agenda, with its use being the early diagnosis of cancer. Within the UK, the CCLRC laser science programme has a strong bioscience flavour, and is actively exploring opportunities to develop laser-based programmes for the bioscience community and to bring new insights into molecular and bio-molecular functions.

2.8. The changing S&T landscape in SA – Implications for Laser Science

The sections above set out, in some detail, the current state of laser research and applications. In terms of South Africa, laser science and laser use contributes directly to the economy, to the building of the S&T base, and to human capital development. South Africa is positioning for increased economic growth as a key to addressing national challenges. For much of the first ten years of democracy the emphasis was on fiscal discipline and social transformation22; by the late 1990’s economic decline had been reversed, and the next phase is a programme of public works to promote job creation and improve infrastructure. The link has been established between scientific competence and progress away from technological marginalisation towards a knowledge-based economy; the Department of Science and Technology is tasked to release the full potential of science, engineering and technology in social and economic

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development23, and the National Research Foundation and the CSIR are two of the primary agencies charged with fostering this policy. After a period of stagnation, expenditure on R&D grew from 0.76% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2001/2 to 0.81% measured in 2003/424. The challenge remains of reaching the target of 1% of GDP. This picture is tempered by a slow rise in the number of researchers, a contributing factor in the slow development of what might be called “research capital”. It is known that of the expenditure on R&D, 56% occurs in the private sector. In terms of the Higher Education Institutions, a “sluggish employment growth picture” among permanent academic staff is observed25: head count decreased at technikons from 2000 to 2003, and rose insignificantly at universities, with a 4% loss in the number of permanent academics with doctorates. The “good news” is focussed on students: significant gains have been made in registration and graduation for post-graduate degrees (additional 1 839 graduates during 2000-2003) . This picture represents rising teaching loads and falling time available for experienced researchers to mentor and engage in knowledge generation. A very encouraging response by DST is the plan to create 55 new Chairs at HEI’s in Science and Technology. This increases the importance attached to having exciting and vital flagship projects which provide attractive world-class opportunities for university staff, industry researchers, and students, and form a visible incentive for bright young people to conduct their research in South Africa. In moving toward a technologically advanced society, the role of the science councils is a vital link in the national innovation chain. The CSIR, with its mandate to make positive impact through excellence in science and technology on the quality of life of all South Africans, is proposing a renewal and rejuvenation of its research base through a substantial Human Capital Development programme in partnership with the HEI’s. The strategic renewal of technological and scientific excellence within the organisation should impact on the good quality of research, and the support for researchers within the National Laser Centre especially through its Emerging Research Areas (ERA), for example in the field of photonic bandgap materials. The continental perspective is at present also encouraging. The recent resolutions of the Commission of African Ministers of Science and Technology26 in late 2005 specifically foster collaboration (details are given in chapter 6). A budget of US$ 157 million for the shared creation of opportunities in science and technology and joint science programmes has been announced, and the role of the African Laser Centre is specifically recognised. These changing paradigms, evidenced at continental and national level as well as within the organisations of DST, NRF and the CSIR show increased emphasis on the formation of groups with critical mass, on mentoring within well-founded research groups, and on the efficient use of equipment to make the best use of limited resources. There is increased consciousness of the advantages of being “joined up and connected”. DST/NRF Centres of Excellence, National Laboratories, National Institutes, Flagship projects, NRF Focus Areas, etc are some of the instruments on the South African S&T scene that are charged to achieve precisely this.

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3. Rental Pool Programme – General Perspectives

3.1. History and Background The National Laser Centre (NLC) was established in April 2000 and resulted from the merger of laser expertise and facilities at the CSIR and the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) following the termination of the Cogema project in December 1997. Most of the equipment available through the Rental Pool Programme for use at Higher Education Institutions was made available through a lease agreement between NECSA and the NLC. The use of the equipment is restricted to projects not conflicting with the terminated Cogema agreement – the equipment, therefore, cannot be used for isotope enrichment or military-related projects. The lease agreement requires the NLC to insure the equipment for its replacement value and to maintain the equipment in a good working condition. The NLC therefore has to factor in insurance and maintenance costs on all items rented to clients. Within the NLC, the Higher Education Institutions and New Initiatives Division manages the Rental Pool Programme. The National Research Foundation facilitates the administration of the programme by providing a direct interface with the user community and by maintaining tight financial controls. NLC-linked bursaries are processed by the NRF to ensure uniformity in standards and criteria in selections across all disciplines. The NRF, as an agent of the DST, has a vested interest in the success of the RPP.

Since its inception, the programme has promoted laser science in Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) through the loan of laser equipment for research. There has been a concomitant increase in the number of presentations on related topics at the annual South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) conference. The Lasers, Optics and Spectroscopy Specialist Group of the SAIP is currently the second largest in terms of presentations at this conference. The number of publications in high ranking international journals has also increased significantly since 2000. This year there were almost 30 publications in high ranking ISI listed journals from RPP-supported research. There is a noticeable increase in the number of students pursuing laser-related research with a reasonable impact on equity and redress. Research endeavours are, to varying degrees, in the fields of physics, chemistry, engineering, biosciences and medicine. The NLC has initiated a Public Understanding of Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) program to promote awareness of laser science in South Africa, and also in other African countries through the African Laser Center (ALC).

Initially, 5 grant proposals were received and were all funded using the cost allocation of R2 million. As the number of grant applications increased, it became necessary to increase the allocated funding to R3 million in 2003. This funding allocation has not been revised despite the significant increase in the number of worthy grant applications as adjudged by international review panels. In 2005, 25 grant applications were received and only 18 applications were eventually successful. 50% of these applications were only considered after accessing provisional funds aimed at catering for maintenance and replacement of old lasers. Clearly this is not a sustainable funding model since almost 70% of the lasers in the RPP are more than 10 years old and require significant

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maintenance. In some cases replacement of old lasers has become mandatory. The UK LSF Laser Loan Pool programme aims to replace lasers on a 5 year cycle.

The NLC also maintains a User Facility that enables researchers to visit the site to conduct research. This is an especially important means of exposing scientists from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions to current research topics in laser science. This exchange is funded by the RPP.

3.2. Highlights from the RPP Within the context of South Africa, there is a diverse range of laser science being performed within the RPP programme, and several blossoming programmes described below provide internationally competitive research.

• Lasers are being used in a variety of ways as spectroscopic probes for interrogating the properties of materials, for example at Wits and NMMU. There is world-leading expertise associated with Brillion scattering and Raman spectroscopy under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. The work couples industrial importance as well, with the investigation of coating of aero-engine components with precious metals such as the economically important platinum. Whilst platinum is expensive, its use is becoming more economically viable because it permits engines to operate at up to 300oC above present ranges, and this gives increased fuel efficiencies. South African expertise is being used to monitor the behaviour of materials under such extreme temperatures and pressures found in aero engines. The knowledge base also provides know-how for investigating corrosion of metal components and optical materials for tuning lasers using up-conversion methods.

• Prior to the RPP, photochemistry was relatively unknown as a concept in SA.

Now, however, research performed at Rhodes University is developing photochemistry to treat cancer using photo-dynamic therapy. The siting of the laser and development of this programme has provided a means for the group to establish links to another HEI for monitoring the phthalocyanine drugs at the cellular level in-vivo with the University of Johannesburg. In the two years the programme has been running, it has produced several high quality publications. The group has also been able to develop work outside of SA and presently is working with the MRC and a group of Russian scientists under an international technology transfer project.

• Another link to industry and society involves developing sustainable fuels. In November the Nobel Laureate Professor Walter Kohn (Santa Barbara, USA) gave a lecture on the importance of solar energy, trying to persuade the public that we should start to take it very seriously. He has made a DVD ("The Power of the Sun") with the famous actor and comedian John Cleese to promote public awareness of solar power. High profile work in this area is being performed within Department of Physics at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, that is leading the way in developing a novel solar active panel system based on CuInSe2. The work involves a consortium and is funded by two main channels: R17 million through THRIP, and R13 million from the Innovation Fund. The

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programme involves partners from University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria and NMMU.

• Optical fibres are the communication tools for today. World leading expertise at UJ has secured major funding from Telkom. The work develops fibre optic technology based on changing the crystallinity of the fibres and controlling their structure at the end of the fibre to influence the transmission of particular wavelengths. This technology is now being developed as a way to diagnose disease – in particular, engineering antibodies to coat the ends of the fibre that transmit a particular laser beam that can be used to diagnose HIV.

• Within the UJ, simple diode lasers are being used to investigate the way near-infrared light can aid wound healing. It is fair to say that world-wide, this technique is used with little understanding regarding the mechanism of the effect. The programme supported by the RPP is working, and enables biologists with no laser expertise to work in this area. Progress to date is encouraging, although it is fair to say that much work remains given the variety and complexity of cellular chemistry and the many conditions found within living tissue. However, progress is being made to separate the myths from reality.

• Vacuum ultraviolet remains an important wavelength that laser physicists world-wide are trying to develop. Within the Stellenbosch group, there is leading work using a tunable vacuum ultraviolet light source based on combining two laser beams within a magnesium vapour. Two lasers are used: one is scanned (a dye laser) to provide tunable light in the 150 to 200 nm region. The wavelengths can be used to make fundamental measurements on simple gaseous molecular systems such as carbon monoxide. The experimental set-up developed for this work represents a substantial technical skill and 3 ppm sensitivity limit for CO detection has been achieved. CO is the second most abundant molecule in interstellar space. The results to date have implications for gasses in space and pollution monitoring.

• The University of Stellenbosch houses The Laser Research Institute (LRI) and has initiated a femtosecond laser programme. The commercial laser was purchased in 2001 and used for second harmonic generation (SHG). The experimental set-up requires complex detection techniques to monitor the weak optical signals and involve a lock-in amplifier. Using this setup, the analysis of crystalline materials is performed using the SHG signals generated from the femtosecond laser pulses interacting with the materials. Materials investigated to date include the semiconductors SiC, ZnO and PbxCd1-xTe as well as probing the Si/SiO2 interface. This programme has established the generally applicable technique within South Africa that can be widely used as a versatile technique to probe the structural and electronic properties of crystalline materials and particularly surfaces and interfaces. The programme is getting established and has already produced several papers published in internationally recognized peer reviewed journals. The Stellenbosch programme complements the RPP and NLC activities by initially taking responsibility for femtosecond laser expertise. However, it is fair to say that the use of femtosecond lasers for engineering and spectroscopic probes – particularly for biological work – world-wide is a fierce activity, and developing femtosecond lasers and ultrafast laser programmes should be seen as a priority development within South Africa and as expertise

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grows this area should grow in parallel. The development of a femtosecond laser programme is an initiative being developed through the SAIP. A document27 entitled “The Development of a Strategy for Femtosecond Laser Research and Applications in Africa” has been presented to the SAIP Council for onward submission to the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This is part of the laser physics community’s response to the recently completed international review of physics28. The initiative will require funding, and LRI and NLC are jointly investigating ways to secure support.

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4. Rental Pool Programme – Retrospective View The focus of the review is the retrospective view covering the period from January 2001 to March 2005.

4.1. Performance of RPP Despite the aging equipment, financial constraints and limited personnel, the RPP staff is to be congratulated for nurturing high quality research programmes in laser science that are meeting key goals of the national system of innovation. It is obvious to this panel that staff routinely goes “the extra mile” to assist researchers with their setup and maintenance. There is good attention to detail, and staff is often proactive in suggesting newer specifications and installations that invariably impact positively on the quality of the research projects. They show a keen interest in the development of laser science across various disciplines and are, generally speaking, sensitive to the needs of entry-level researchers. Obviously there have been some difficulties in the user community, but almost always the problems can be traced to a lack of manpower which the RPP staff has been complaining about in the first place, and which the review panel recognises. The laser science community in South Africa can be described as being vibrant and growing. Quality research, often of international standard, is taking place. Laser science is beginning to impact on disciplines beyond physics and chemistry such as biosciences and medicine, for example at UJ and Rhodes. Learners are being attracted to the wonders of lasers by a concerted publicity campaign, and quality human resource development is taking place at the graduate level. The impact on equity and redress within the Rental Pool Programme is acceptable at this stage with about 46% of students supported by the programme being Black and 26% being women. The success rate of these students at the graduate level is also good with some students keen to find jobs in industry where their laser skills will be put to use. This trend needs to be given the best opportunity to develop further. At some institutions, such as at NMMU, laser equipment from the RPP has been used by undergraduate students for project work which has exposed students – and, especially, disadvantaged students – to the basics of laser science including training in safety issues. The original guideline amount of 40% of the total grant fund being allocated for equity and redress has been difficult to test. It is the impression of the panel that researchers in the field are sensitive to the issue of redress, and the empirical evidence suggests that Black students, in particular, are being given good opportunities to succeed in this programme. The RPP management has made a strong plea for additional funding to assist the development of laser science at disadvantaged institutions. For now, the opportunity exists for scientists from Historically Black Institutions to visit the User Facility to conduct

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research, and this has been happening, for example from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. On the basis of this, the review panel has argued (see Recommendations 1 and 2) for improving the research capacity and range of projects at the NLC-HQ. The essential ingredients for this to occur are to incorporate at the User Facility additional scientists already operating at the internationally recognised research level with active research programmes for which they are responsible. The Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for this programme do not seem to be clearly defined, and some confusion appears to exist in the community as to precisely how their proposals and performance are judged. This problem is especially confusing for international review panellists who are required to make a judgement on “Impact – social, environmental, commercial, etc” with little understanding of the criteria used to address equity. Recommendation 3 calls for the NLC-RPP, NRF and user community to identify and negotiate, in a transparent way, a clear set of KPI’s. The RPP has facilitated networking of researchers within South Africa as well as from the rest of Africa through the African Laser Centre. This has had the effect of pooling intellectual as well as experimental resources. There are many projects involving industry such as Telkom, Element Six, de Beers, Mintek, Eskom, etc. The annual report back meeting at the South African Institute of Physics conference has proved to be a highlight where researchers and, especially, students are exposed to the wide range of research activities supported by RPP, and this has invariably led to networking and collaborations. This level of enthusiasm and interest is unprecedented in South Africa and the RPP should perhaps serve as a model for how expensive capital equipment can be more efficiently made available to researchers in Higher Education Institutions.

4.2. Utilisation of the RPP by Users During interviews with users, the panel captured some highlights and issues, which are summarized as follows. Some quotes from users will be used to illustrate the points.

4.2.1. Highlights

• Even where there were technical support issues, there was noticeable support for the concept of the RPP, the continued availability of the lasers, and for members of the RPP staff.

• Research and application awareness of lasers have been raised, as intended at

the inception of the programme. “If the RPP didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have this group here today”. Examples are photodynamic therapy, basic research on marine pigments, molecular polarisability (Rhodes), and rare-earth materials characterisation (Wits). The genesis of certain groups has been prompted almost entirely through RPP by the provision of turnkey lasers for novice users.

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• Some RPP staff has succeeded in the very difficult task of crossing the language barrier to other disciplines. When successful, this often turns out to have been undertaken from the direction of the “hard sciences”. “In connection with interdisciplinary users, with little previous laser experience, it is the duty of the person in charge [of the technical group] to go out and break the code”.

• The central role of research groups with critical mass has been stressed in

Section 2.8, on The Changing S&T Landscape in SA. Groups approaching critical mass are forming around the nucleus of equipment and expertise provided by RPP.

• Industrial linkage is another strategic RPP element, and it should be mentioned

that several groups have considerable linkage, notably Stellenbosch, Wits, UJ, and NMMU among those interviewed. The main industrial partners currently involved in RPP-related projects are Element 6, Mintek, TFMC, Telkom and Eskom. These industrial partners collectively contribute in excess of R2 million, mainly through THRIP funding. A second aspect of industrial linkage is through bursary support for students, notably by Telkom and Eskom. The innovation chain role was highlighted through the Innovation Hub: “RPP has a role as the interface between business and research”.

• Laser awareness is being raised in applications, for example welding and heat

treatment (CAPUT), plasma processes and electrical discharges (Wits), and fibre optic sensors for medical diagnosis (UJ). Technology may be transferred on two feet: there is an increased migration of laser awareness through students heading for industry, notably electrical engineering Masters students at UJ, who, interestingly, expressed the view that the PhD seriously overqualified engineers in industry, and students at NMMU, one of whom is heading for a start-up laser company in the Eastern Cape.

• Research value-for-money appears to be reasonably high in terms of what has

been achieved, and what can potentially be achieved, with R3 million per year. There is a significant number of publications in internationally recognized journals. As startup groups come online, publication numbers rise: the output was benchmarked as “good” internationally by the members of this review panel.

• Patents, MOU’s, formation of consortia, and IP negotiations are in progress. Most

groups relied on University Research Offices for support in understanding IP issues.

• It was encouraging that other sources, e.g. university funds, THRIP and the

Innovation Fund (e.g. NMMU-UJ-UP), have been leveraged through RPP. In one case, a foreign researcher initially failed to secure university support, but was able to use her successful RPP application to unlock support from the University.

4.2.2. Issues

• Most of the lasers in the RPP are more than 10 years old which results in more breakdowns and increased maintenance costs. Figure 1 below depicts the exponential increase in maintenance since the inception of the RPP.

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0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Grant Year

Rm

Figure 1: Maintenance costs for each grant year (NLC-RPP self-evaluation report: 2001 – 2005)

• It is evident that the current 1-year evaluation period is too short, particularly on

the part of the users. It can take up to 4 months to get the laser delivered and more than two months to get the experimental setup ready, especially for new users. The evaluation period of 1 year is not long enough to report on research results; it simply leads to unnecessary bureaucracy.

• Over the years the number of applications for laser equipment has far exceeded

the current supply. Consequently, a number of good to excellent proposals – as adjudged by international review panels – have not been funded due to lack of funds. To alleviate this problem, the NLC-RPP has resorted to shifting money from maintenance and replacement funds in order to subsidize the research projects. This is certainly not a sustainable funding model as continued depletion of maintenance and replacement funds will soon mean that broken equipment cannot be repaired or replaced. Figure 2 shows how the number of applications has increased over the past 5 years, whilst the RPP funding has remained fixed at R3 million for the past three years.

• The Review Panel and Advisory Board also identified many similar issues as the

user community. A major issue is that the availability of instrumentation has not been sufficient to get all good projects running. It is seen that the RPP needs more money for reinvestment and modernisation of laser equipment for it to survive and this should be sought as a matter of priority. Within the review process there is frustration at the amount of good science being made to fall by the way-side and there is frequently a very narrow gap, within 3% of marks, between funded and non-funded programmes.

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• Developing the breadth of the programme is also seen as a priority from the

stakeholders. At present there is not enough cross disciplinary research.

• In terms of stretching the funding and increasing the responsibility for the RPP more widely, there is a need for grant holders who are developing large facility type units not to loose their recognisable ownership of their host HEI’s. Failing to do so results in HEI’s not contributing financial support for the research that goes under their umbrella. In relation to this, some of the more mature and established researchers need to demonstrate a transfer of skills as they secure loans for 3 years or more.

• The RPP is perceived to have a tendency to spread resources over too many

groups instead of strongly supporting the best ones. Users are not asked to provide a formal annual report that could be published as an official document giving scientific progress. This is regarded as a shortcoming.

• During the peer review stage, the reviewers need to have more guidelines,

particularly where sensitive South African issues are required in relation to racial and educational reforms. This is best achieved at the end of the review when relative merits can be weighed up against the scientific markings. However, in this context, there is a need to develop better KPI’s so as to ensure that the RPP mission across all issues is correctly judged. Furthermore, for completely inexperienced laser researchers, many weak projects have been given a high level of support only to do the “right thing” – in these cases, bringing user groups to work within NLC-HQ may be better suited as a first step.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Grant Year

Rm

ApplicationsAvailableAllocated

Figure 2: Demand and supply of the RPP over the past 5 years (NLC-RPP self-evaluation report: 2001 – 2005)

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• The NLC User Facility also accommodates industrial research in parallel with

academic research. This is likely to present scheduling problems which will become more of a concern as the number of users increases at the User Facility.

• Some researchers have highlighted long response times to their funding

applications. This is understandably due to limited capacity at the NLC. However, proper intervention is required to ensure that good-quality research is not compromised.

• The coexistence of the Laser Research Institute at Stellenbosch University and

the National Laser Centre has been viewed by some researchers as being potentially problematic in the sense that there could be a competition for limited resources. This view is not shared by the panel (see for example 3.2, 7th bullet). Every effort should be made to dispel this view, which can best be done by both organizations constantly finding ways to co-operate and complement each other.

4.3. Management of the RPP

4.3.1. General Comments on RPP Operations by NLC Staff Throughout the interviews with the stakeholders, praise of the good-will and professional attitude of the RPP staff was prevalent. It is recognised that a massive increase in SA of the awareness of lasers is due to the RRP team efforts via the “Laser Road Show”. This has been an imaginative part of the programme and has raised a considerable awareness of lasers in South Africa. The HEI’s have also developed their outlook on the prospects of lasers for research. The RPP staff efforts have had a knock-on-effect by stimulating young students to consider science as a career choice. This is a major problem world wide, attracting the young into science generally. When RPP lasers are housed in institutions, they have also been employed to bring school children onto campus, thus furthering education in science. This complements the NLC in their task of raising laser awareness throughout South Africa and indicates the enthusiasm users have to show off and push to develop momentum in laser science. The management is complimented on their performance over the past 5 years in growing the RPP. This growth is seen to be much greater than at other Central Facilities in the country. Members of RPP staff are quick to identify users who are not making progress thus indicating a reasonably good understanding of the situation in the community. The programme has also benefited by the ability of staff to drive experiments forward actively, not only through the loan of lasers, but also being able to provide extra equipment. This support ensures optimum use of the lasers. In some cases, spectrometers and fast photomultipliers have been an essential part in initiating programmes. The support of non-laser equipment by RPP should not go by unnoticed in this respect.

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The RPP staff work hard to understand the user needs, and have developed understanding along the way in areas outside of their immediate expertise, for example, by identifying new types of lasers to develop both existing and new laser programmes. That said, some users have suffered delays in obtaining support for repairing lasers. Response times for lasers in the field to be repaired were mixed. Some users gave praise for the speed with which broken lasers were repaired, whilst others had met with frustration from lengthy delays. There seemed to be no correlation with how complex a repair was and the time taken. Some of this can be assigned to difficulties in sourcing parts for old lasers that can no longer be either supported by the manufacturer or made on demand. However, a few examples were identified during the review that had resulted in major delays in excess of several months. In such cases, users were left ill-informed of the status of their problems. The RPP should endeavour to adopt a good “bedside manner” when dealing with lengthy delays, as equipment rented that does not meet performance specifications, or is ill supported for lengthy periods, may jeopardise Masters and Doctoral programmes which require timely progress to reach thesis submission deadlines. The age of the lasers is a cause for concern, and the recommendation of extra funding should be used to address this issue by scrapping problem lasers and replacing them with more modern and more reliable equivalents. The review panel is aware of limitations in staff effort to support the over-commitment of lasers and diagnostics in the field, and is sensitive to how best to find a compromise. There are user groups with a wealth of experience in working with lasers, which had made steps within their own institutions to employ technical staff to maintain the rented systems. Groups such as these with RPP lasers may well be able to offer savings of RPP staff effort that can be employed elsewhere. Perhaps in such cases the groups with experience should be offered the maintenance funds to perform their own maintenance? However, given the present drive to develop use of lasers in the biological and medical fields where user groups will require extra commitment from the Rental Pool staff, it is emphasized that no reduction in staff at this stage should occur. Investment and finance strategies are closely linked with this need to obtain extra effort or release existing effort into new areas identified by the RPP. At the moment, they appear to be spreading themselves a bit too thin for the existing pool. Again, universities could cover some maintenance costs associated with the lasers’ operation. This would improve funding, and relieve the burden on the side of RPP. The main obstacle, however, is the shortage of qualified people within NLC to give good guidance.

4.3.2. Could Technical Service be through the Laser Manufacturer?

The “buying” in of effort from laser company representatives for support of Rental Pool service and maintenance was considered. Whilst this can be useful for fixing immediate problems, and although SA has a number of agents that sell lasers, expertise is limited, and frequently the agent is there to provide only marketing and sales. Furthermore, the user community often requires scientific support, and NLC scientific expertise is

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frequently required, not only to operate and train the user but also to design specific experiments. This is particularly so for users outside of the physical sciences where some frustration over the time lags in repairs and maintenance has been encountered. Whilst this is an important issue for developing the diversity of the programme, some pre-evaluation needs to made on both sides – the RPP and bioscience researchers – in terms of what can be expected in realistic terms of technical support by RPP versus day-to-day maintenance of the laser system by the user groups. Clearly in dealing with the different disciplines, the extremes between laser experts and complete laser novices will be found. For example, in the biological science sector, some extra effort by RPP is necessary for making laser beam alignment and characterising essential parameters easily. A simple list of instructions should be made that is no more complex than setting the recording of a TV programme using a video recorder. It is hoped that such measures would serve to give confidence to users at the “turn-key” level.

4.3.3. RPP Administration Most stakeholders believe RPP to be highly monitored in comparison with, for example, a 3-year NRF grant that, once awarded, has minimal checks whilst the grant is running. In contrast, the RPP requires Annual Reports. Most users felt this was too much of a burden. In some cases, reports had been requested even before lasers had been installed! There was also much comment on the period of loan (addressed below) and the difficulties it brings.

4.3.4. Loan Period Many of the RPP users have had the laser for up to 3 years, and the short loan period places unnecessary burden on both the NLC and user community. Also, many of the lasers have been built into complex equipment, e.g. aligned to a cryostat, taking several months to optimise. Removing the laser and reinstalling it 12 months later would mean duplication of effort thus costing time, and upsetting an experimental programme and student projects. Another issue was the time between application, review and approval. Within the UK Laser Loan Pool, lasers are loaned for 6 months, with two calls per year for equipment. A two-year allocation would probably exacerbate this issue, and some attention should be given to the fact that longer loans mean fewer lasers available for potential experiments that may receive a higher priority. Also, if lasers are tied up longer, the review must be very accurate as feedback to an applicant requesting a minor correction for an otherwise excellent piece of work could hamper progress. It is recommended that applicants be allowed to request longer rental times, providing they can justify sufficient need at the review stage. The peer review could then judge and award accordingly. For instance, the applicant could request a longer rental period, but they would have to make a sufficiently strong case to show there was indeed enough research identified to justify the time. Alternatively, the panel could recommend a longer rental if it felt the user had significant problems, for example a complex or new

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experimental set-up or even someone lacking experience in lasers and required additional time for training. This could help relieve stress with academics’ teaching pressures. The users believed if the laser was to be incorporated into a longer term project it could be bound over. In such cases, where a researcher’s track record was good, the laser would serve to provide more impetus for results. A further point is that Masters and PhD programmes are longer than one year, and laser rentals should perhaps match these time frames where it was felt appropriate. This needs to be considered carefully as the dynamics of the rental period should not be upset. Firstly, the need to move lasers about can provide more opportunities and exposure to laser research; secondly, “hearing the clock ticking” can encourage users to get on with using the laser. Leaving the laser in place for longer periods can encourage the “I’ll start it tomorrow” syndrome. Some reduced interim review would be necessary which would be much less work then preparing a Rental Pool application. Another benefit would be that administration would be cut down within the RPP. Installation and movement of lasers - probably the most likely time during which damage occurs – would be minimised.

4.3.5. Laser Ownership and Funding Experienced laser users that have gained access to RPP for several years should be considered as being ready to adopt the laser, and be responsible for it. This would be seen as a way of enabling other research funding agencies, including the HEI’s themselves, to be responsible for funding lasers. At some point in the future this has to happen in any case, and it is perhaps wise to consider this issue in the light of the RPP passing out of its “honeymoon” period. The community would realise that it is essential to demonstrate that laser research can survive in open competition with non-laser science. Equally, mature users should at some point expect their own intuitions to recognise the needs of lasers and offer support in maintaining important programmes using lasers at their own institutions. Again, this shows laser research aligning to the competition process of other research disciplines. These are obviously very high-level political issues, and the panel sees that an opportune moment in perhaps the next 5 years as being appropriate only when the RPP is better established and the present hard work by the NLC would not be reversed and even lost. The RPP could then focus more on:

• supporting young researchers who need time and equipment to set themselves up

• supporting programmes that require intermittent use of lasers • being on hand when breakdowns occur at crucial points in a programme ( if not

helped, the programme may fail to meet some critical milestone – e.g. PhD student work and graduation)

• beginning to develop multiple laser techniques • supporting users that have one type of laser, but actually require another with

different characteristics to complement measurements made with their own laser. On a related issue, shorter time scales should be accommodated within the NLC User Facility. Local HEI’s stood the most to benefit by this, in terms of being able to turn up on the doorstep at short notice for very little cost of time and effort.

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4.3.6. General Conclusions From the RPP Advisory Board and Peer Review Panel Members

Support to continue the RPP at this stage is high. It is a very elegant idea improving the quality of and efficiency of research in SA, widening the SA research portfolio in response to government policy. It should, given its track record, be taken to the next level where it can continue under the present international peer review system that makes it independent and a credible scientific endeavour in SA. In a way, the RPP has become a victim of its own success as the present number of excellent applications far outweighs the available resources. This has been under increasing strain in the last few years because the diversity of the programme has increased considerably. Today the programmes supported by RPP are producing high quality results from both developed programmes and new researchers, with novel applications increasing annually. The RPP has matured somewhat but should still be considered to be at a vulnerable stage in terms of meeting its original goals.

4.3.7. Staff and Future Objectives Within the RPP, there is a recognised need to develop laser applications across a broad range of disciplines. If this is to be successful, the NLC-RPP must be able to offer a broad range of expertise, and will increasingly be required to apply themselves in fields as far ranging as engineering and medical science. A lot of the subject expertise will be made available from HEI’s or other institutions, but there will still be the need for RPP to consult with users to appreciate the requirements of proposed experiments, and be able to give high quality advice during the application stage. This is not a one way process, as expertise from HEI’s can also be brought into the NLC. There are instances when, for example, a theorist could develop modelling code to improve understanding of materials processing for very little cost and effort. This approach should be encouraged, and seen as a major overall benefit to the community and a way to develop networking within SA. During the review, several instances were found where clinicians had submitted applications but had failed to address fundamental issues relating to the limits and possibilities of lasers. Wider scientific expertise must be installed within the NLC to ensure that the NLC programme meets it original goals stated over 5 years ago at its conception. Within the South African context, the NLC is charged with the operation of the RPP. With this comes the responsibility to be visionary, and the need for NLC to develop a strategy for laser research in South Africa. The NLC must take steps to develop a strategy document, laying down potential future developments and opportunities of laser science within the context of the RPP. This document should be attentive to the needs of the HEI’s and must align with these requirements.

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If the NLC is to pursue the above strategy, then it must seek ways to ensure a suitable career progression that will help limit the situation in which members of staff leave just as they begin to obtain internationally recognised research standing. Of course, within all institutions there is a risk of this, but the NLC has lost 2 key members of staff over the last 12 months. This is therefore considered to be a prominent issue that should be addressed, and a fundamental requirement to secure the ideals and commitment to develop lasers within South Africa.

4.4. Capacity Building The summary of capacity building highlights and issues raised by stakeholders and identified by the Review Panel is as follows.

4.4.1. Highlights

• The panel interviewed enthusiastic students willing to talk about their work, take laser awareness to industry, and raise lasers as exciting and innovative tools in their lectures. In terms of new research groups and critical mass, it was interesting that some graduated PhD’s have become independent and have grown their own groups, and are taking on Masters and PhD students (e.g. Stellenbosch).

• RPP was tasked to make sure that 40% of its investment went to Historically

Black Universities. With the mergers and restructuring of universities and technikons in South Africa that has since taken place, it is not as easy to measure this investment as it would have been in 2003. After some discussion with senior staff at the NRF, it was seen as a viable alternative to count individuals from designated groups instead. While a consistent and thorough methodology should be developed and used (see Recommendation 3 on KPIs), a preliminary and approximate attempt has been made here.

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2004: from Summary of 2004 Annual Report of RPP

bm

bfwm

wf

Figure 3: Student demographics within the Rental Pool Program. Symbols: bm Black Male, bf Black Female, wm White Male, wf White Female

The data used in Figure 3 was extracted from the 2004 Annual Report of the

RPP, and appear to indicate that approximately 46% of the students in that year were black, and that approximately 26% were women. This is encouraging news, but more progress should still be made.

• The panel found that specialized courses on lasers had been mounted by some

users themselves, e.g. two 4-week courses at NMMU. Attendance of courses and workshops mounted by NLC on safety and best practice has taken place, and users commented on their effectiveness.

• The report back session at SAIP conferences was mentioned by all users who

attended it as a valuable feedback session, which stimulates collaboration and inter-disciplinary exploration. In terms of collaboration and networking, proactive creation of an active network through this equipment programme and hard work is evident. In fact, the panel wishes at this point to make special mention that this is unprecedented in their collective experience. The drive and energy of the RPP staff was complimented by users. The network has led to collaborations which did not previously exist, examples being UJ-Rhodes, industry-NMMU, and Wits-Stellenbosch. A good characterization was the comment that “the Rental Programme is like a spinal cord facility”.

• ALC is seen as an existing and potentially major contributor to capacity building

on the continent. African researchers from Ghana and Zimbabwe are currently present at the NLC and Stellenbosch University. Other groups have also been active with some HEI’s within the RPP, e.g., Senegal and NMMU. ALC countries are beginning to unlock some funding through collaborations and networking.

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• In terms of bursaries, all students appeared to be supported in some form or

another, with a small minority assisting with teaching in order to complete their degrees. A gap appeared in bursaries for African students, who bring wider networking and capacity development to the programme, and for this reason the Panel makes recommendation 7 below, i.e. that the ALC may be able to unlock bursary funding for African students studying in South Africa and assist the transfer of laser technology in this way.

4.4.2. Issues

• It would appear that some of the delays in the resolution of problems with laser equipment were due to lack of adequate knowledge of laser use by the clients themselves, particularly in the fields that are not traditionally prone to laser use, like biosciences and engineering. Applications of lasers in biosciences are increasing rapidly in the world. It is, therefore, imperative for South African researchers in this field to be introduced to a more enabling environment which would enhance their research capabilities and international recognition.

• The NLC should be leading the nation in terms of its research expertise in laser

science. However, there is a strong perception among the stakeholders that there isn’t sufficiently good-quality research conducted at the NLC-HQ. This is primarily due to the small number of skilled personnel. There are currently about 3 skilled laser scientists looking after almost 20 projects and more than 30 lasers. The latter includes lasers at the user facility. This presents a precarious situation, as the departure of any one of the skilled personnel would lead to a significant number of current projects losing critical technical support. The necessity of highly skilled personnel is also paramount at the applications evaluation stage. There is at least one case in which an application was approved without the necessary skill within the NLC to offer appropriate support.

• The number of NLC funded students in HEI’s is low compared to other funding

schemes. This needs to improve to ensure sustainability through improved skills base within the RPP.

• In order to address issues of equity and redress, the representation of HBU’s

within the NLC-RPP programme should be improved. One would argue that the concept of HBU’s against the backdrop of numerous mergers that have taken place recently is no longer necessary. However, there are institutions which are still predominantly black and require focused nurturing to foster an environment of high quality research such as University of Zululand, University of Limpompo and Walter Sisulu University of Technology and Science.

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4.5. Impact and Stakeholder Satisfaction The impact and success of the RPP programme can be demonstrated in various ways. This section draws material from the returns of the questionnaires sent to the NLC Advisory Board members and Peer Review Panel Members. It has produced some notable comments. This part of the report represents independent views of the RPP from domestic and international parties. The following lists particular points captured for the RPP strengths:-

• RPP provides professional service to maintain lasers and keep programmes moving.

• User groups have a strong appreciation for the RPP and how it has contributed to research within SA.

• The programme has given newcomers a start in the field of lasers and photonics, including bringing students into these areas through HEI laser research programmes; SA know-how in lasers has increased enormously.

• The number of non-specialist scientists using lasers has grown – which is directly attributable to NLC marketing and management.

• The programme is growing and in many cases shows an increase in scientific outputs.

• The NLC offer sound administrative support. • The mission of the RPP enunciated by DST and CSIR has been met with

enthusiasm. • The programme has brought in international collaborations, thus invigorating SA

science at the international level which is beneficial for networking and developing the nation’s status and prestige.

• RPP has acquired very expensive equipment that otherwise would not be afforded by researchers and their institutes.

• It has good integrated “cradle to grave” support for good projects that would otherwise not have taken place or failed at seed stage. The facilities provided are able to offer developmental support for weaker projects that may have potential but lack expertise and inventiveness in using lasers.

• The NLC annual meeting provides a powerful backdrop for developing multidisciplinary scientists together within one forum.

A major impact of the RPP has been to develop cooperation between HEI’s through the betterment of their facilities. This has served to provide training of academics as well as students in cutting edge technology, and enabled the creation of research centres that are able to compete on the international level. The RPP has been extremely important in its role of retaining high levels of expertise, experience and highly motivated staff within the HEI’s. This is leading to a transfer of skills and in turn seeding the training of the next generation of researchers. In turn, the public is gaining an increased awareness of lasers through the RPP programmes – lasers stimulate not only light but also our natural scientific curiosity.

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5. Rental Pool Programme – Prospective View The prospective view covers the period ending 2010, but also addresses long-term goals for which the Rental Pool Programme should strive. This chapter focuses on the optimal future use of infrastructure and equipment, and suggests a funding model that ensures the Rental Pool Programme's sustainability and increasing funding base.

5.1. Increased Funding The interviews that have been performed with all branches of stakeholders unanimously recognise the need to provide an increase in funding for the RPP. This is supported through the findings of this review panel through information establishing the RPP to be highly productive in developing the South African Science programme to meet the requirements stated within the White Paper on Science and Technology. The NLC and the RPP should be allowed and indeed encouraged to continue its efforts in terms of developing laser knowledge within SA. Spins-offs from the efforts suggest that the investment pays off in terms of developing young people from all origins under a common umbrella of science. The review has found ample evidence that the good work will continue. Specific issues to address as a matter of urgency include the replacement of aged lasers (over 10 years old) with modern equivalents. The replaced lasers should be retired so as to relieve present strain on maintenance budgets releasing staff effort to support programmes being driven by non-laser experts. This will go someway to enabling the NLC to develop a more diverse programme e.g. more bioscience and medical research. However, there is still a need to develop staff expertise in laser applications, and experts should be recruited in identified areas that may include extra milestones in terms of developing not only the biosciences but also forging stronger links with industry. In the next 5 years, effort must be made on training SA scientists that can develop the laser programme further. Some funds should be made available for this by appointing new “young” research scientists in line with Recommendation 2. Another funding mechanism that is worth further exploration is fostering institutions’ contribution through RPP funding. One of the stakeholders managed to raise R200k through a similar funding model. In this case, the institution and RPP contributed R100k each. The RPP has successfully passed the first hurdle of what it was set out to do in terms of developing laser science within SA. Now there is a need to develop the remit and identify what its future outputs are to be, and finding ways to develop laser applications with more international standing. This can be achieved with a tighter proposal scheme. The RPP community is becoming more established and more technically competent at maintaining lasers. Some balance needs to be made to provide sufficient training of users to be able to support laser maintenance activities. Suggestions on how to stimulate optimal future use of infrastructure and equipment needs to be carefully

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considered in terms of how best to make use of increased investment. That is more money is not a cure all and needs to be given within a strategy informed by DST, DTI NRF and CSIR. This will give the necessary guidance to address specific areas, both scientific and social, and promote them above others proportionally. In this context there is a need to define RPP relations with DST, DTI, Centres of excellence, Central Facilities and seek ways to provide a sustainable funding mechanism following another 5 years of support. This includes developing along side other complementary programmes such as PLD system, high power super computing for simulation and modelling. These will help and support the user needs as the programme expands.

5.2. Vision Skilled NLC staff has been a major contributing factor leading to the success of the Rental Pool Programme. As the programme develops the users will require the NLC to develop as well. To meet the future needs of the RPP it is therefore seen as essential to develop NLC expertise across a wider range of disciplines. Experts will not only contribute directly to developing the quality of user programmes but will also be capable of recognising the future potential of lasers within both a world-wide context and more locally within the South African context. The NLC must seek to develop itself to be better placed for this task. An essential ingredient therefore is to develop a strategy outlining potential future developments and opportunities of laser science and, within the context of the RPP, be attentive to the needs of the Higher Education Institutions. This is best achieved within NLC-HQ by recruiting additional scientists already operating at the internationally recognised research level with active research programmes for which they are responsible. These findings come from stakeholder interviews that seek not only technical support but also scientific advice. Given the role required, NLC scientists should be encouraged to seek ways to formally collaborate on specific projects. This will serve to both maintain staff within the NLC and allowing them to develop and initiate their own science programmes in collaboration with user groups, and be responsible for publishing and/or patenting their own work. In all cases of scientific work, the NLC researchers should have to compete for laser time with other user groups. This will ensure fair play and mutual respect of the community and NLC staff.

5.3. Key Performance Indicators Throughout the review there has been a lack of understanding from all parties interviewed on how the RPP should be evaluated. Consultation to develop these with NRF, NLC and the user community should be made to establish how best to judge the performance of the next 5 years of the RPP. The indicators should equate all sides of the RPP operation including the science, economic and social issues. The Peer Review Panel and members of the Advisory Board stakeholders are forthright in stating their views that some information on KPI’s needs to be more available. The table below gives some suggestions. Whilst this is seen by some as a statistics gathering exercise, the mission of the RPP programme is scientific, economic and

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social. This makes a complex equation where human values vary enormously. Some simple guidelines should be stated to ensure that evidence can be presented to demonstrate a strong science programme has been coupled with well balanced social virtues of a developing democratic society.

Measurement Factor Weighting Scientific Quality and Merit 26%Impact on training and education 12%Cost effectiveness 6%Degree of Cooperation alignment to DST & DTI Initiative (Networking) 8%Innovation 3%Methodology 1%Time-Table Organisation 1%Capacity Building 4%Literature/State of the Art 15%Equity and redress 6%Industrial Relevance, Patents & Industrial spin outs 6%Conference Participation & Workshops 2%Invitations to contribute to workshops 2%Track Record 4%Social Impact 4% The above table gives some suggestions of Key Performance Indicators to evaluate the ability of the RPP to deliver its required outputs. The score gives normalised weighting factors from the questionnaires received. As can be seen, there are many factors suggested, and this reflects the complexity of the Rental Pool Programme. At the very least, some holistic approach is required.

5.4. Rental Period and Administration Most stakeholders believe RPP to be too highly monitored in comparison with typical NRF grants. In some cases reports were requested even before lasers had been installed! There was also much comment on the period of loan and the difficulties it brings. It is clear that the 1 year evaluation period is generally too short, particularly on the part of the users. Many of the lasers have been built into complex equipment, e.g. aligned to a cryostat, taking several months to optimise. It can take up to 4 months to get the laser delivered and more than two months to get the experimental setup ready, especially for new users. An extended evaluation period would reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, thereby allowing researchers more time to focus on research, but this does not diminish the necessity for consistent reporting on progress, which should take place on shorter time intervals. Installation and movement of lasers - probably the most likely time during which damage occurs – would be minimised. Some projects, however, might not warrant longer periods than 1 year, and the project reviewers should have flexibility, in consultation with NLC staff, in deciding on an alternative loan period in line with the nature and work load of each application.

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Once the KPIs have been identified, the reporting process can be simplified using scientific formats that give clear guidance to reviewers on assessment criteria.

5.5. HEI Support There is a perception at some HEI’s that if a problem erupts with RPP equipment at the client institution, then the RPP should deal with it no matter the scale of the problem. Sometimes, relatively routine technical problems are left to RPP staff to resolve, often with unnecessary delays to the researchers concerned. This places an additional burden on limited RPP technical staff. So dire is the situation that RPP has at times been offered to take over aging HEI equipment only because technical support and maintenance is so much more forthcoming through the RPP. It is in the interest of the national system of innovation that HEI Technical Workshops be staffed by qualified personnel with access to quality equipment, who are in a position to give some technical support in the maintenance of sophisticated equipment. In the case of lasers, this can be done in consultation with RPP experts. Research Offices of HEI’s should be playing a more active role in lending support to RPP clients, so that situations such as the following can be avoided: the panel has encountered a case of one research group thriving because of in-house expertise in maintenance of laser equipment whilst another group at the same institution flounders because of lack of access to that expertise. Clearly it is not in the interest of that particular HEI nor the RPP that such a situation persists. “What does the Research Office think about this?” asked one observer. There is also the perception that running expenses and maintenance costs must all be borne by the RPP, once again with further burden on limited RPP financial resources. For example, there is an expectation that funding for students attending the annual SAIP meeting will come from RPP sources alone. HEI’s assisting with maintenance and running costs will go a long way toward alleviating this burden and dispelling the notion that somehow laser science is being treated preferentially. Established laser users that have benefited from RPP over a period of time should be encouraged to adopt the laser and be responsible for its upkeep. The HEI’s need to get involved in making this transition – ultimately, the research project must be able to survive in open competition with other research endeavours within the HEI and nationally.

5.6. National Laser Facility The funding base for science in South Africa is moving away from individual support and micro-management to creating nodes of critical mass that enhance multidisciplinary research and networking, and that support world class work of relevance to South Africa. Quality human resource development with significant impact on equity and redress are central tenets of South African policy. There is urgent need for innovation and transfer of

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emerging technologies to industry. We are in need of the development of 'smart' industries in South Africa, and here the use of lasers has an important role to play. There are many models for accomplishing the above goals in South Africa, for example: Centres of Excellence, NRF Focus Areas, Flagship Projects, National Institutes, National Centres, National Laboratories, National Facilities, Emerging Research Areas within the CSIR, etc. Each has its own emphasis and set of nuances as well as system of governance. It must be said, however, that considerable confusion currently exists in the community on the exact definition of these many entities. It is important that this confusion be cleared up. Having considered the alternatives, it is the belief of this review panel that the vision and goals of the Rental Pool Programme can best be achieved if the National Laser Centre is set up as a National Facility as defined by the National Research Foundation Annual Report 2004/05, page 43. The immediate problems facing the RPP are aging equipment, limited funding, challenges associated with expanding the programme into other disciplines such biosciences, medicine and engineering (with significant potential for developing intellectual property and patents as well as applications in industry). It is not possible to address these problems without enhancing the environment within which the RPP operates. It is in this sense that this review panel has felt compelled to make a recommendation that might at first glance appear to go beyond the scope of this review as stated in the terms of reference. It is our belief that because the future of the RPP is inextricably linked with the governance, ethos, culture and value system of the NLC, the National Laser Centre should be set up as a National Laser Facility. The particular points to which attention should be directed are:

• custodianship of unique, expensive, nationally available equipment is a national issue

• RPP equipment should be widely available to as many HEI’s and users as possible, rather than through the formation of a few selected HEI links

• the RPP should be underpinned by a long term funding commitment rather than uncertainty on shorter time scales

• responsibility for building multilateral relationships involves several related users in contrast to the management of bilateral relationships

• “objectivity is one of the best things the RPP can offer”; the RPP should continue to offer its user-centred approach

• RPP should allow users to define fields of interest, although it may offer strategic direction or encouragement, as for example to biosciences, health, engineering, etc.

• RPP is making a good effort to meet the KPIs of both the NRF and the CSIR, through the NLC, and this can cause stress; an example is that inclusion of RPP staff members’ names in publication authorship may become an issue in the future with the latter, and affiliation of students may become an issue with the latter; these should not be allowed to cloud the excellent work that RPP is doing for South Africa

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• the benefits of the RPP to the NLC and the CSIR may well be indirect; it should involve the greater S&T base in the country

• RPP staff runs a Public Understanding programme PULSE, which may possibly be perceived as being low priority when viewed with NLC or CSIR priorities in mind

• RPP is not a storeroom for equipment; the panel wishes to encourage the development of researchers, and finds the current environment at the NLC not yet optimal in this respect

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6. African Laser Centre

6.1. General Comments The NLC, through its HEI programme and the RPP, manages South African participation in the African Laser Centre. The ALC was launched in 2003 and started life as a fledgling within the NLC; it is aimed at encouraging research collaborations between African researchers, and facilitating research and student exchanges between African institutes29 .The ALC may be seen as a future context for the activities of the Rental Pool; ideas and best practices may be exchanged, and the organisations may learn from each other. The most significant funding to date, R 1.5 million (2005), has been provided by the SA government and is managed by the NLC. The ALC and RPP are interrelated, since

• RPP equipment has in some cases become the focus of expanding collaborations,

• the RPP may provide a successful model which can be reproduced within the ALC,

• expertise in the use of lasers comes through the ALC for some projects, and • the ALC is a growth and expansion point in the field.

The panel was therefore most interested in exploring the extent to which the ALC had assisted research in Africa, the funding prospects, synergy between ALC and RPP, and views of the performance of management to date. The panel was given the opportunity to communicate by telephone with Prof A C Beye in Senegal, Prof Z Ben Lakdar in Tunisia and Prof S Mtingwa (see Appendix 4) in the USA.

6.1.1. Research Support through the ALC The ALC can contribute significantly to the development of S&T in Africa, using the network that it has created. Capacity development is seen as critical: “Africa must solve its own problems”. It was suggested during these interviews that Africa should position itself for scientific dominance in the second half of the 21st century. A number of groups have laser equipment for research, but when breakdowns occur, these groups sometimes spend months waiting for spares and technicians. South Africa is known to be advanced in this field, and the hope is that mutual benefit can grow from this interaction. It is also felt that African students need significant training in order to enable them to travel to other laboratories, and that SA is at present well positioned to assist. In particular, access to equipment through collaborations is productive (Stellenbosch was mentioned in several conversations).

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6.1.2. Management of Funds and Programme to date There is a significant challenge in establishing the independent existence of the ALC, and the process is under way. Participants said “we have nothing but praise” for the way that the programme has been managed; and that “NLC has been handling management quite nicely up to now”. A fluorescence programme measuring lifetimes, for example, would be useful. The First ALC Workshop held in Durban in November 2005 was sponsored jointly by South Africa, through the NLC, and by the NSF (National Science Foundation, USA). Comments indicated that this workshop was very much welcomed.

6.1.3. Synergy between ALC and RPP ALC members are working with a number of RPP users: notably U. Stellenbosch (nanoparticle processing with pulsed lasers, hosting of visitors, and the provision of training courses), and NMMU (optics for telecommunications). During the visit of the panel to the NLC laboratories at the CSIR, two visitors from the University of Zimbabwe were met. In this case it was learnt that RPP staff had visited the resident university in Zimbabwe to assist with the setup and technical support, and that funding from Zimbabwean sources was also supporting the project and further exchange between the two countries.

6.2. Prospective view The ALC strategy is described in detail in its founding document and broadly in Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action30, adopted by the meeting of Ministers of Science and Technology of the continent in November 200531. The most significant prospect was indicated to be the outcome of the African Ministerial Commission on S&T of NEPAD [website, declaration paragraph 3.5] (Senegal, September 2005). Of a US$157 million budget, a promise has been made of US$ 20 million over 5 years to the ALC, but the money has to be raised (possibly on time scales dictated by government involvement). A programme of initiating contact with appropriate ministers has already started, with Senegal and Rwanda already in progress. It is intended that multiple countries contribute to research and development and that each country should benefit from the ALC. The following mechanisms were also mentioned:

• ICTP: 24 fellowships have been granted through the network on nanoscience (€45 000 per year), and these will be put in the basket of the ALC

• some support for research in ALC collaborations is provided by host countries, as in Tunisia

• bilateral agreements exist between many pairs of countries but have not yet been exploited, as far as the panel could determine

• industrial funding has not yet been exploited

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• donor funding, for example through the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Schlumberger, etc., is a good prospect, and contact was initiated with a consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation at the World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development (Durban, November 2005).

The feasibility of a synchrotron light source for Africa was mentioned as a project to look at seriously, in the light that Africa appears to be the only world region without a synchrotron (Brazil and Jordan are the most recent countries to undertake the building of synchrotrons). Support for the SA government in undertaking a feasibility workshop was expressed.

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7. Recommendations It is proposed that the institutions named in brackets take the lead in initiating the appropriate action. RECOMMENDATION 1 – Increased Funding: Commit significant new funding to the Rental Pool Programme. The National Laser Centre Rental Pool Programme of the CSIR (RPP) has done an excellent job in rapidly building laser expertise in South Africa despite aging equipment and limited funds. To sustain the RPP’s future, increased funding should be applied to current research endeavours and to specific areas identified within the review. Key issues to address are identified as:

• Purchase additional lasers to satisfy demand. Furthermore, many of the existing lasers are in excess of 10 years old. A programme to replace these lasers with modern, more reliable, equivalents should be implemented with reference to areas of the RPP scientific needs. Lasers that are replaced should be retired from the RPP and disposed of safely.

• The quality and diversity of the Rental Pool Programme is impressive and must be maintained. To respond to this effectively, the RPP should investigate using increased funding to balance what its user base requires in terms of technical support and scientific expertise.

• The review recognises a need to increase the user base, for example in the biosciences, medical, industrial and engineering sectors, and this suggests a rebalancing of expertise in support of these areas to sustain a balanced science portfolio.

• To stimulate activity and capacity building, more bursaries and post-doctoral fellowships should be made available for laser science.

[DST, NRF, NLC, RPP] RECOMMENDATION 2 – Vision: The National Laser Centre must be a more visionary force for South African Laser Science. The NLC is charged with the operation of the RPP. With this comes the responsibility to be visionary and the need for NLC to develop a strategy for laser research in South Africa. The NLC must take steps to develop a strategy outlining potential future developments and opportunities of laser science and, within the context of the RPP, be attentive to the needs of the Higher Education Institutions. The essential ingredients for this to occur are to incorporate at the User Facility additional scientists already operating at the internationally recognised research level with active research programmes for which they are responsible.

[NLC]

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RECOMMENDATION 3 – Key Performance Indicators: Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) should be identified and negotiated by the National Laser Centre, National Research Foundation and user community during the proposal and renewal stages of project submissions. In order to ensure a sustainable high level of performance, Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) should be identified and negotiated by all stakeholders. Currently, there exists no KPI’s to measure performance in a reliable manner. Understanding that new and on-going projects might require different KPI’s, a differential rather than a uniform scale could be established according to the funding needs of various users, e.g. experienced versus start-up users, disciplines such as physics and chemistry versus non-technical disciplines such as biosciences and medicine, etc.

[RPP, NRF, user community] RECOMMENDATION 4 – Rental Period and Administration: A laser rental period ranging from 6 months to 3 years, instead of 1 year, must be considered on a case by case basis. The intention is to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and improve transparency, whilst retaining good reviewing.

[RPP] RECOMMENDATION 5 – Higher Education Institutions support: It is recommended that Higher Education Institutions give more financial and technical support for the maintenance of user RPP equipment. HEI technical workshops should be more involved in assisting researchers with routine technical problems while HEI’s should be more proactive in financially assisting with running expenses, for example in supporting student participation at the annual users’ meeting.

[RPP, NRF and HEI’s] RECOMMENDATION 6 – National Facility: The National Laser Centre should be set up as a National Facility. A National Facilityc is more consistent with the enabling environment that is necessary to ensure that laser science in general, and the Rental Pool Programme in particular, makes an optimal impact on science, technology and development in South Africa.

[DST]

c National Facility as defined by the National Research Foundation Annual Report 2004/05 page 43.

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RECOMMENDATION 7 - African Laser Centre: The next step for the ALC is substantial shared funding sourced by African countries. The ALC is very relevant for African development and must be encouraged to grow. This panel recommends that the next step is the commitment of financial resources by other countries in support of the ALC. Under the circumstances of increased joint funding, the RPP would develop very naturally to include other African countries. As a high priority, it is proposed that the aims of the RPP and the ALC would be furthered if bursaries can be made available to African students studying in South Africa.

[ALC]

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Appendix 1: List of Key Abbreviations ALC African Laser Centre CAPUT Cape Peninsula University of Technology CoE Centre of Excellence CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CW continuous wave DST Department of Science and Technology DTI Department of Trade and Industry HBU Historically Black University HEI Higher Education Institution IR infrared KPI Key Performance Indicator LSF The Lasers for Science Facility, RAL MOU Memorandum of understanding MR Magnetic resonance NLC National Laser Centre NLC-HQ National Laser Centre Headquarters NECSA Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa NMMU Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NRF National Research Foundation PULSE Public Understanding of Laser Science and Engineering RAL Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory RPP NLC Rental Pool Programme of the CSIR SA South Africa SAIP South African Institute of Physics THRIP The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme UJ University of Johannesburg UK United Kingdom UKZN University of KwaZulu-Natal UP University of Pretoria UV ultraviolet Wits University of Witwatersrand 2D two dimensional

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Appendix 2: Terms of Reference

REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL LASER CENTRE RENTAL POOL PROGRAMME

1. Assignment title

Review of the National Laser Centre (NLC) Rental Pool Programme (hereinafter referred to as “RPP”) of the CSIR.

2. Assignment Principal and Review Reference Group The Assignment Principal is the Executive Director: Knowledge Management and Strategy of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Review Reference Group comprises the Group Executive (Research & Development) of the CSIR, the NRF Executive Director: Institutional Capacity Development as well as the NRF Executive Director: Knowledge Management and Strategy. The role of the Review Reference Group is to: • approve the terms of reference; • approve the review programme and budget; • appoint the review panel; • receive the final report from the review panel and the response of the management

of the RPP; • provide comments and recommendations on the review process and the extent to

which the terms of reference for the review have been addressed. The Assignment Principal will forward the following to the Department of Science and Technology, the CSIR Executive and the NRF Executive: • the final report by the review panel • the response of the management of the RPP • the comments and recommendations by the Review Reference Group on the

review process.

3. Service provider The Evaluation Centre of the NRF will act as the service provider. The responsibilities of the service provider are to: • develop a programme for the review, including a budget; • manage, coordinate and administer the entire review process, including logistics; • provide support to the review panel; • source the necessary information from the RPP. 4. The purpose of the review

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The purpose of the review will be to: • firstly and most importantly, provide a retrospective view on the performance of the

RPP in terms of: o the objectives stated in the NLC Rental Pool Programme policy document

which states that: the sole purpose of the fund is to stimulate and grow the laser research

programmes within the South African educational institutions through increased exposure. Addionally,

the RPP grant can also fund set-up costs for undergraduate training to enable the disadvantaged community to participate fully in research;

a guideline amount of 40% of the total Grant Fund will be allocated to equity and redress. Partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) will also qualify.

o the outcome and impact of the activities of the RPP on the HEI’s and the community;

• secondly, provide a prospective view on: o the best ways and means to stimulate optimal future use of the infrastructure

and equipment by users; o a funding model that ensures the RPP’s sustainability and an increasing

funding base; o the possibility of expanding the RPP to also accommodate interaction with the

newly established African Laser Centre; • based on the above, make recommendations regarding the strategic direction of

the Programme.

5. The scope of the review

The focus of the review will be a retrospective view, i.e. covering the period from January 2001 to March 2005. The prospective view will cover the next five years but may also address long-term goals to which the RPP should strive. 6. Review dimensions

The review panel is requested to conduct the review and to determine the strengths, weaknesses and impact of the RPP in terms of the aspects outlined below:

6.1. Performance of the RPP

• Assess to what extent the objectives as stated in Item 4 above have been

addressed; • Comment on the effectiveness and efficiency in creating and expanding the RPP

for the benefit of its users, in particular its new users; • Relate the input of the programme to its output, i.e. determine whether the RPP

provided value for money in terms of its goal attainment; • For benchmarking purposes, relate the performance of the programme, where

appropriate, to similar programmes within the NRF, as well as to similar programmes in other countries;

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• Where possible, comment also on the appropriateness of the performance indicators (output, outcome and impact) used by the RPP.

6.2. Utilisation of the RPP by users

Comment on the: • appropriateness of mechanisms utilized by the RPP to facilitate access of users to

equipment and infrastructure, as well as to laboratories at the NLC facility; • extent of use by various users; • extent and impact of current and envisaged collaborations between users; • impact of the RPP from a scientific community perspective; • impact the RPP had that enabled users to collaborate with national and

international researchers, including researchers in Africa.

6.3. Management of the RPP Comment on • whether the management structures and processes were well designed and

appropriate to achieve the objectives of the RPP; • the performance of the respective role players in the management of the RPP; • the effectiveness and efficiency in maintaining and developing the equipment

infrastructure; • the appropriateness as well as efficient and effective use of resources (financial

and human); • the appraisal, monitoring and control of projects and activities supported by the

RPP.

6.4. Capacity building Comment on the: • impact the RPP had on the development of students, in particular postgraduate

students; • extent to which the RPP contributed to transformation within the wider optics, laser

and spectroscopy community of the National System of Innovation, including race and gender in terms of students and grant holders.

6.5. Impact and stakeholder satisfaction

• Explore the relevance of the RPP’s objectives and the impact of its performance

for the users of the RPP, including the participating HEI’s, etc (i.e. determine the extent to which the expectations of stakeholders have been met and the extent to which the RPP is addressing national needs and priorities as identified in the White Paper on Science and Technology, and the National R&D Strategy).

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7. The review process

7.1. The appointment of the review team, preparations and programme • The assignment principal will appoint the review panel and its convenor; • The review panel should comprise no more than three persons with appropriate

experience and skills to conduct the review. Panel members should represent the spectrum of stakeholders of the RPP and should include a foreign expert. In addition, as a way of capacity building, one member representing the young scientists should serve on the panel;

• The resource documents for the review listed in the Annexure will be available to the panel well in advance of the commencement of the review;

• The service provider will draw up a programme for the review in consultation with the Reference Group and the management of the RPP. The review panel will have the opportunity to interrogate the proposed programme and to recommend amendments and additions should the need arise;

• The review panel will have the opportunity to interview members of the management of the RPP, stakeholders from the relative government departments, science councils, the Higher Education Sector, grant holders, student beneficiaries, etc;

• The review team will decide on and pursue its own line of questioning during interviews.

7.2. Deliverables

• Verbal feedback by the review panel to the Assignment Principal, the Reference

Group, appropriate representatives of DST, CSIR, NRF as well as management of the RPP and users;

• A preliminary report by the review panel on completion of the stakeholder interviews;

• A final report within two weeks of completion of the stakeholder interviews. The report should include:

o an executive summary; o background to the review; o evaluation questions that were addressed; o key findings; o recommendations; o appendices containing, e.g., terms of reference, persons interviewed.

• A response from the management of the RPP within two weeks after receipt of the final report;

• Comments and recommendations by the Reference Group on the review process and the extent to which the terms of reference for the review have been addressed within two weeks after receipt of the final report;

• Placement of the final report on the CSIR and NRF websites within two weeks of its consideration by DST, the CSIR Executive and NRF Executive;

• Consideration and implementation of relevant recommendations contained in the final report by the management of the RPP.

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8. Time frame

The review will take place during October 2005 depending on the availability of suitable reviewers.

9. Budget

9.1. The Evaluation Centre will submit a budget for the evaluation to the Reference Group for its approval.

9.2. 50% of the costs incurred for the review will be covered from NRF RISA

(Research and Innovation Support and Advancement) Executive funds and 50% from NLC funds.

The terms of reference may be amended should the need arise.

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Annexure

Documents for the review panel Essential • Self-evaluation report by the National Laser Centre Rental Pool Programme (incl.

Motivation for review, Example of a typical Grant Proposal, Benchmark Report updated 2003: The NLC Rental Pool Programme compared to other NRF funding mechanisms)

• NLC Strategic plan (2003-2006) (incl. NLC Rental Pool Programme strategic five-year plan)

• Summary of 2004 annual report of the Rental Pool Programme • Rental Pool Programme Policy (incl. General Guidelines on Eligibility for Support by

the NLC Rental Pool Programme, Rental Pool Programme Stakeholder list) Additional • White Paper on Science and Technology • South Africa’s National Research and Development Strategy

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Appendix 3: List of Interviewees NO. NAME Affiliation

1. Dr K. Mokele NRF 2. Dr A.M. Kaniki NRF 3. Dr P.M. Mjwara CSIR 4. Ms G.U. Schirge NRF 5. Ms A. Radel NRF 6. Mrs S. Naidoo NRF 7. Dr N. Comins Innovation Hub 8. Prof M.A. Hellberg UKZN 9. Dr N. Bhagwandin MRC 10. Dr. H.K. Chikwanda Tshwane U. of Technology 11. Dr A. Forbes NLC 12. Dr T.H. Dlamini NLC 13. Mr H. Greyling NLC 14. Mr T. du Plooy NLC 15. Mr H. Tromp Ex-NLC 16. Prof A.C. Beye University Cheikh Anto Diop de

Dakar, Senegal 17. Dr Z.B. Lakdar University of Tunis El Mar 18. Prof S. Mtingwa Harvard University 19. Prof JD Comins Wits 20. Kibreab Haile Wits, student 21. Bheki Mathe Wits, student 22. Clemence Sumanya Wits, student 23. Dr M Mujaji Wits 24. Masimba Murungweni Wits, student 25. Dr E Sideras-Haddad Wits 26. Dr SH Connell Wits 27. Denson Dube Wits, student 28. Nick West Wits, student 29. Mr I Burns Wits, Research office 30. Prof H Abrahamse UJ, Faculty of Health 31. Denise Hawkins UJ, student 32. Nicolette Houreld UJ, student 33. Tina Kresfelder UJ, student 34. Tamarisk Horne UJ, student 35. Prof PL Swart UJ, Faculty of Engineering 36. Wynand van Niekerk UJ, student 37. Ruan du Toit UJ, student 38. Charl Erasmus UJ, student 39. Johann Kellerman UJ, student 40. Dr Spizin Vasily UJ, postdoctoral 41. Dr Anatoli Chtcherbucov UJ, postdoctoral 42. Dr Diethelm Schmiedfer UJ, postdoctoral

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43. Dr Mikhail Shlyagin UJ, Russian visitor 44. Prof T. Nyokong Rhodes 45. Prof M. Davies-Coleman Rhodes 46. Dr. R. Keyzers Rhodes, postdoctoral 47. Dr E. Antunes Rhodes, postdoctoral 48. Dr D. Maree Rhodes 49. Mr P. Mashazi Rhodes, student 50. Prof AWR Leitch NMMU 51. Prof JAA Engelbrecht NMMU 52. Dr E van Dyk NMMU 53. David Waswa NMMU, student 54. Nelisiwe Somhlahlo NMMU, student 55. Precious Shamba NMMU, student 56. Freddie Vorster NMMU, student 57. Matthew Branch NMMU, student 58. William Goosen NMMU, student 59. Andile Gxasheka NMMU, student 60. Tim Gibbon NMMU, student 61. Nicholas Thantsha NMMU, student 62. Dr Christian Weichsel NMMU, postdoctoral 63. Dr Grant James NMMU, postdoctoral 64. Dr Torsten Krug NMMU, postdoctoral 65. Dr EG Rohwer U. Stellenbosch 66. Dr VW Couling UKZN 67. Prof GJ Oliver CPUT 68. Prof D de Waal U. Pretoria 69. Dr AP Nevhutalu NRF 70. Mrs S Harris NRF 71. Dr R Drennan NRF

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Appendix 4: Response from Prof S. Mtingwa, ALC representative

REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL LASER CENTRE RENTAL POOL PROGRAMME

Teleconference with Professor Sekazi K. Mtingwa

North Carolina A&T State University and

Member of the Board of the African Laser Centre

21 November 2005 I. Currently the ALC derives practically all of its budget from South African sources. What are the prospects for additional funding being secured from NEPAD, SADC and the African Union? At a September 2005 meeting in Dakar, Senegal, those attending the Second African Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology pledged US$157 million over five years overall to boost science and technology on the African continent and $20 million over five years specifically to the African Laser Centre. This is a tremendous outcome and would allow the ALC to implement a number of programs described in its Strategy and Business Plan. What about funding from other African national governments and industrial support? Following the Senegal meeting of African Science and Technology Ministers, the prospects are bright for African governments to invest a significant percentage, agreeing in principle to invest as much as 1%, of their Gross Domestic Products in science and technology. The ALC Board should seize upon this opportunity and pay visits to as many African Science and Technology Ministers and Heads of State as possible. I would suggest that we start with Rwanda, where Minister (Professor) Romain Murenzi has gone on record as recognizing the need to invest in scientific and technological infrastructure. He is an old friend and colleague of mine from his days as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics at Clark Atlanta University in the United States. Given its turbulent recent history, Rwanda’s financial support to the ALC could serve as a model and significant motivation for other African countries to follow Rwanda’s lead. In particular, I would suggest that the ALC Board Chair, Dr. Philemon Mjwara, the ALC Board Vice-Chair, Professor Ahmadou Wagué, and myself travel to Rwanda to personally meet with Professor Murenzi and the country’s Head of State to get the ball rolling. Having news coverage of the ALC visit to Rwanda would be extremely advantageous. This should happen before the next ALC meeting, tentatively set for May 2006.

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While industrial support is important, I do not think that it will come in the immediate future on any grand scale. The affiliated ALC laboratories must first partner with industry and demonstrate the profitability of its research accomplishments. From European and American sources? While it is important to pursue financial support from Europe, the U.S., and other regions of the world, it seems to me that that support will, and should, be secondary. Just as China and India are doing, Africa must solve its own problems relative to gaining a place among world leaders in science and technology. At the closing banquet of the recent “US-Africa Advanced Studies Institute on Photon Interactions with Atoms and Molecules,” which was held November 2-12, 2005 in Durban, South Africa, I detailed the push by China and India to join the world leaders in science and technology. As indicators of their efforts, I presented the following information:

The first half of this century will see China take its place among the S&T leaders. – Undergraduates receiving their degrees in science and technology

(Reference: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Future,” A US Report, 2005)

Japan 66% China 59% Germany 36% USA 32%

– Number of engineers that graduated in 2004 (ibid.)

China 600,000 India 350,000 America 70,000

Of 120 chemical plants being built around the world with price tags of

US$1 Billion or more, 1 is in the U.S. and 50 are in China. 40%-50% of concrete for building projects is being used in China.

While China will probably succeed in its goal to be a dominant scientific and technological force in the first half of the 21st century, Africa must join the world S&T powers as an equal player during the 2nd half of the 21st century. To ensure the success of this bold ambition, Africans on the African continent and in the Diaspora must begin the process now of educating ourselves and building S&T infrastructure in Africa. The ALC should be a model for the many other S&T disciplines. During the recent “World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development,” held in Durban just before the US-Africa Advanced Studies Institute, I spoke with Professor K. R. Sreenivasan, Director of the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), located in Trieste, Italy. He will meet with Tony Blair’s chief advisors to make a special effort to secure funding for the ALC. We are waiting for the outcome of those meetings. In the United States, it would be advantageous for an ALC delegation, including myself, to meet with the leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is chaired by my Congressman, Representative Melvin L. Watt of North Carolina. I am sure that the CBC

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would be open to receiving such a delegation from Africa and it could open new sources of U.S. funding for the ALC. From my overtures to U.S. Foundations, it became clear that they usually do not fund scientific and technological infrastructure. However, they are open to providing funds that are directed toward human resources, such as financial support to students and faculty travel. The ALC should investigate this source of funding more fully. Sarah Farley, who is a consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation, attended the recent World Conference in Durban and may be the appropriate person to contact for making contact with possible U.S. foundation contributors. II. The ALC is currently essentially a surrogate of the NLC even though it is registered as an independent Section 21 company. Do you see the ALC as evolving into a separate, independent organization with a truly continental perspective? How will this be achieved? Yes, I do see the ALC evolving into a separate, independent organization with a truly continental perspective. In fact, it already has a genuine continental perspective, with member institutions from many countries in Africa. To become independent of the NLC, the ALC could benefit greatly from the US$20 million that was pledged at the recent Ministerial meeting in Senegal. Receipt of that amount would allow the ALC to hire its first full-time Executive Director and supporting staff. Once that is done, the ALC will be off and running! At the same time, foreign support would be helpful, although the ALC, and Africa in general, should not depend upon foreign support in order to take its place among world leaders in S&T fields. To ensure its financial stability, the ALC must execute Memoranda of Understanding with the governments of its member institutions. The MOUs should spell out the financial and other contributions of those governments, with financial contributions based upon the Gross Domestic Product of each country. The ALC should invest approximately 10% of its receipts into an endowment fund to ensure its long-term financial stability. It also should develop mechanisms, such as business incubators, to generate financial resources from within its own programs. III. Why is laser physics important for Africa? Light sources, especially commercial table-top lasers, have been among the most important scientific instruments for probing the structure and behavior of matter. Through the use of lasers, many new advanced materials have been brought to the marketplace, and many more will be introduced in the future. If Africa is to play a role in the intense competition for patents, it has to boost its laser infrastructure. What research themes is the ALC focusing on and why? Which countries, aside from South Africa, are actively involved in this field? As described in the “ALC Strategy and Business Plan,” the following main ALC user facilities, called African Multinational Laser Research Centres, have the indicated areas of expertise, although these are not exclusive:

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Facility City and Country Field of Specialisation

National Laser Centre Pretoria, South Africa

Manufacturing, Machining, and Materials Processing

University of Cheikh Anta Diop

Dakar, Senegal Atomic and Molecular Physics and Laser Spectroscopy and Processing

Laser and Fibre Optics Centre

Cape Coast, Ghana

Agricultural and Environmental Science

National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science

Cairo, Egypt Medical and Biological Applications of Lasers

Tunis el Manar University

Tunis, Tunisia Plant and Environmental Science and Molecular Spectroscopy

Advanced Technologies Development Centre

Algiers, Algeria Laser Spectroscopy and Surface Studies

As other laboratories develop, they also could rise to the level of an African Multinational Laser Research Centre. An excellent example is the Laser Research Institute at the University of Stellenbosch. There, Professors Hubertus von Bergmann and Erich Rohwer are busy building a femtosecond laser system with the ultimate objective of constructing a powerful petawatt laser, which would have wide applications to such diverse fields as materials science and nuclear physics. What other intra-African collaborations are taking place that do not involve SA? Before the birth of the ALC, there already was an ongoing collaboration among African countries called the LAM (Lasers, Atomic, and Molecular) Network. Based in Dakar, Senegal and under the leadership of Professor Ahmadou Wagué of the University of Cheikh Anta Diop, the LAM Network is sponsored by the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics. Participating African institutions receive approximately $50,000 per year from the ICTP to enhance their laser research programs. This level of funding is too small to have a significantly tranforming impact on laser research infrastructure in Africa. Therefore, it is envisaged that the ALC will be able to deliver the level of funding that is needed for significant infrastructure enhancements.

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What trans-disciplinary work has been identified as being of importance for Africa…to realize the mission statement of the ALC? Perhaps most important is the ALC’s long-term goal of bringing a synchrotron light source to the African continent. A synchrotron light source is a circular electron accelerator that provides many beams of X-rays that can be used for research and development in a variety of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, materials, biology, medicine, and industrial applications. Many stations, called beamlines, for receiving X-rays can be set up around the accelerator; thus, it is able to service many experiments, perhaps up to 100, simultaneously. The price tag is in the tens of millions of dollars; thus, such a project should be pursued in a cautious and systematic fashion. First, it should be noted that accelerator expertise already exists in South Africa at iThemba LABS outside Cape Town. Thus, there is a base of accelerator knowledge already in place upon which to build. Currently, the South African government is studying the feasibility of constructing a synchrotron light source. Many others around the world have pledged their support in this effort. It will be important for South Africa to convene a feasibility workshop in the near future to gauge the level of support, expertise, and researchers for such a device on the African continent. Beamlines at light sources in other countries are available for use by African researchers. Professors Giovanni Hearne and Simon Connell of the University of Wits are synchrotron users at facilities in Italy, France, and the United States. Dr. Malik Maaza of iThemba LABS plans to use them to further his research in the new exciting field of nanoscience. This cadre of synchrotron users could form a base from which to build a significant community of African synchrotron light source users. There is an immediate need for designated lecturers to travel to all parts of Africa to describe the essentials of accelerator physics and how they are used via synchrotron light sources and free-electron lasers to unlock such mysteries of nature as the structure and function of proteins. IV. What is the market for laser physics graduates in Africa? Skills acquired from studying and using lasers can be applied to many other disciplines than those that explicitly use lasers. Thus, the education provided by laser science provides an exceptional knowledge base. It is a goal of the ALC to build laser infrastructure in Africa, which would provide many opportunities for future generations of laser users. This is a must if Africa is to be an S&T leader by the second half of the 21st century. Of course there are major corporations, such as De Beers, in South Africa that already have a need for those trained in the use of lasers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are up and coming fields with a need for laser users to help design exciting new materials and their applications. Thus, the future demand should grow rapidly, and even accelerate.

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V. Which industries are investing in laser science in Africa? With the study and installation of optical fibers on and around the continent, the communications industry has a big need for lasers. At the recent US-Africa Advanced Studies Institute, Professor Wagué described how his Senegalese team is using lasers to treat difficult, aggressive cancers. Also, at the Institute, Professor Paul K. Buah-Bassuah from Ghana explained how his laboratory uses lasers to enhance the yield of crops in the agricultural industry. These are just a few examples of the use of lasers in various African industries. VI. How do you see the future of laser physics on the continent? Laser physics has a bright future in Africa. Just as stem cells can be made to produce almost any cell in the body, laser physics can serve as a “stem” field in the education of African youth. Lasers can form the basis of exciting laboratory demonstrations, something which could inspire the public, especially the young. By turning our youth on to the joys of laser science, many will pursue laser studies further; however, many will go on to successful careers in other non-laser technical areas. The important thing is that laser physics, serving as a “stem” discipline, ignited their curiosity and started them on the road to success. VII. What are the main challenges facing the ALC? The many member institutions and their representatives are on the same page relative to the goals and strategy of the ALC. The missing link, and main challenge, at the present is the lack of significant funding, especially from outside South Africa. Hopefully, the US$20 million pledge made at the recent African Ministerial Meeting in Senegal will address this challenge. VIII. Our review is principally on the Rental Pool Programme of the NLC. How has the ALC benefited from this particular programme? The ALC has benefited greatly from the NLC’s Rental Pool Programme. The laser equipment that was inherited from the terminated radioisotope separation collaboration with France has mainly been allocated for use by South African researchers. However, the ALC has funded visitorships of researchers and students from other African countries to those facilities to gain various kinds of new expertise. An excellent example is the current visit by Professor Paul Buah-Bassuah of Ghana to the Laser Research Institute at the University of Stellenbosch to learn from Professors von Bergmann and Rohwer the science and capabilities of femtosecond lasers. He hopes to establish a similar facility at the University of Cape Coast, his home institution. There are many other such examples. How is the programme managed and how can it be improved? From all the reports that I have received, the Rental Pool Programme has been a tremendous success! As for future improvements, especially as regards the ALC, the main emphasis should be on extending the programme to other African countries. Only time will tell the success of this effort.

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References 1 For further details e-mail: publisher@bccresearch.com. Welding Journal, vol.83, no.2. Feb.2004, p.10. 2 Optoelectronics Report, vol.11, no.18. 15 Sept.2004, p.2. 3 Optoelectronics Report, vol.11, no.23. 1 Dec.2004, pp.1,4. 4 Laser Focus World, vol.41. no.6. June 2005, pp.74-75. 5 http://www.laserlab-europe.net/ 6 http://apri.gist.ac.kr/ailn/index.php 7 China Visit Report, Colin Danson, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, CCLRC, October 2005 8http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/Programmes/InnovativeManufacturing/InnovativeManufacturingResearchCentres/default.htm 9 http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/index.xtp 10 Corus Emotion, no.5. 2003, p.13. 11 www.omegalaser.com; www.lasxindustries.com. Industrial Laser Solutions for Manufacturing, vol.19, no.4. April 2004, p.4. 12 For further information see www.ft.com/autos. Financial Times. 9 June 2004, p.13. 13 www.globalwatchonline.com/missions. 14 Macplas, vol.E3, no.04. Aug.2004, p.44. 15 Laser Focus World, vol.41. no.5. May 2005, pp.129-133. 16 Optoelectronics Report, 1 May 2005, p 3 17 IAdvanced Materials and Processes, vol.162, no.7. July 2004, p.16. 18 Optoelectronics Report, vol.11, no.22. 15 Nov.2004, p.5. 19 The Engineer, vol.293, no.7680. 25 July-7 Aug.2005, p.29. 20 Advanced Materials & Processes, Aug 2005, p 29. 21 http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-9/iss-4/p27.html 22 M Kahn and W Blankley, “The changing face of South Africa’s national system o innovation 1991-2001”, Industry and Higher Education, April 2005 23 Department of Science and Technology, Strategic Plan 1 April 2002 – 31 March 2005 24 Department of Science and Technology, National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D), (2003/04 Fiscal Year), www.dst.gov.za 2005 25 The Synthesis Paper, “Human Resources for Knowledge Production in South Africa”, Cape Town, 23-24 June 2005 26 Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, August 2005, www.nepadst.org/publications/docs/doc27_082005.pdf27 Copies can be requested through Dr E. G. Rowher, University of Stellenbosch, Chairman of the Laser Optics and Spectroscopy subgroup of the SAIP. 28 Shaping the Future of Physics in South Africa by MA Hellberg, K Bharuth-Ram, M Ducloy, K Evans-Lutterodt, SJ Gates, I Gledhill, G Tessema, and AW Wolfendale, Report of the International Panel appointed by the Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation, and the SA Institute for Physics, March 2004, www.saip.org.za 29 African Laser Centre Progress Update, Document 12 handed out to Review Panel 30 Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, August 2005, www.nepadst.org/publications/docs/doc27_082005.pdf31 www.scidev.net/pdffiles/NEPADdoc28_082005.pdf

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