OVERVIEW
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is a statutory body established by the Science and Technology Act No. 26 of 1997 subsequent to the approval of the National Policy on Science and Technology by Cabinet in 1996. Following the Government Gazette Notice No. 1123, which reorganised Government Institutions, the Council falls under the Ministry of Technology and Science which was created to oversee the promotion and development of technology and science in Zambia.
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is a statutory body established by the Science and Technology Act No. 26 of 1997 whose mandate is to promote science and technology so as to improve the quality of life in Zambia.
The portfolio functions of Council as contained in the Science and Technology Act No. 26 of 1997 Section 4(2) are as follows:
i. Promote the development of an indigenous and environmentally friendly technological capacity;
ii. Regulate research in science and technology in Zambia;
iii. Register institutes and centres;
iv. Advise the Government on science and technology policies and activities in Zambia;
v. Determine broad directions, stimulate co-ordination and initiate special projects in science and technology;
vi. Promote and publicise board national priorities in science and technology research;
vii. Liaise with Government, industry and centres and institutes in science and technology;
viii. Mobilise and distribute financial, human and other resources to management boards for science and technology research;
ix. Recommend to the Government the establishment of-any new research institutes and centres;
x. Promote the use of science and technology in industry;
xi. Ensure that gender concerns are integrated at all levels of science and technology development;
xii. Collect and disseminate science and technology information including publication of scientific reports, journals and other such documents and literature;
xiii. Establish and maintain a relationship with corresponding scientific organizations in other countries;
xiv. Take all measures that are necessary to popularise science and technology;
xv. Identify and determine national research and development priorities in science and technology; and
xvi. Do all such things connected with or incidental to the functions of the Council under this Act.
STRATEGIC FOCUS
The NSTC’s 2022 -2026 Strategic Plan is anchored on the Science and Technology Act No. 26 of 1997 and influenced by the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) which is a blueprint for the country’s social-economic development for the period 2022 to 2026. The Council will contribute to strategic development areas of the 8NDP focused on economic transformation and job creation whose development outcome is an industrialised and diversified economy. National Science and Technology Council’s vision is: “A dynamic National Science and Technology Council fostering knowledge generation and Innovation”.
To realise the vision and achieve the strategic results, the Council commits itself to the following mission statement: “To promote and coordinate the advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in order to contribute to national development”.