SUMMARY
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research and Development (R&D) is one of the key sub-functions of a National System of Innovation (NSI). It is the primary point of entry for new scientific development and a key focus for industrial innovation. Recent trends show evidence of disinvestments and decay of South Africas R&D capacity. The problem investigated in this study is the delayed effect and influence R&D investment has on the systems ability to produce R&D output. System Dynamics modelling is an excellent tool to assess a systems ability to adjust to change and the impact of new decisions that have to be made. The conceptual design of a System Dynamics model of R&D activities is presented. The theoretical underpinning and main assumptions made in deriving and developing the model are also discussed.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing en Ontwikkeling (N&O) is een van die sleutelsub-funksies van n Nasionale Stelsel van Innovasie (NSI). Dit is die prime toegangspunt vir nuwe wetenskaplike ontwikkeling en n sleutelfokus vir industrie innovasie. Onlangse neigings lewer bewyse van disinvestering en agteruitgang in Suid-Afrika se N&Okapasiteit. Die probleem wat in hierdie studie ondersoek word, is die vertraagde effek en invloed wat N&O-investering op die stelsel se vermohet om N&O-uitsette te lewer. Stelseldinamikamodellering is n uitstekende gereedskapstuk om n stelsel se vermoom aan te pas by verandering te takseer en die impak van nuwe besluite wat geneem moet word te toets. Die konseptuele ontwerp van n Stelseldinamikamodel van N&O-aktiwiteite word voorgehou. Die teoretiese onderbou en die hoofaannames wat gemaak is in die afleiding en ontwikkeling van die model word ook bespreek.