Page 3 - FlipBook_Michelle

Caption goes here ......

UPDATE ON SAIF PHASE1 FUNDING APPLICATION

The NRF and iThemba LABS management would like to thank the project team, supported by many role-players at
iThemba LABS and collaborators, for the sterling work achieved thus far.

1. A strongly positive letter of support from Treasury allocated R167.9m for the
the DST acknowledging the value of the project as indicated in the mid-term
project for iThemba LABS, NRF, NSI and budget policy statement for the 2018/2019
the country. financial year. The funding will be used to
kick-start phase 1 of the SAIF project
2.Formal support and approval of the (ACE Isotopes), which is centered on the
SAIF project from the Minister of Science acquisition of a 70 MeV cyclotron that will
and Technology Minister Kubayi-Ngubane. be used for isotope production and
Over the past few months, much progress research; and the implementation of the
was realized with the application to secure 3.Successful submission to the low-energy radioactive ion beam (LERIB)
funding for the South African Isotope Joint Technical Committee of the Budget project.
Facility (SAIF) Phase 1. Facility on Infrastructure (BFI) of the
National Treasury. The DST's evident support of the first

iThemba LABS' project team, working with The technical committee recommended phase of SAIF ushers in a new era for
the National Research Foundation (NRF) the project to the Steering committee iThemba LABS as the beams from the
Corporate office, has been burning the within BFI in September 2018. SSC will be dedicated for nuclear physics
midnight oil to respond to urgent questions and radiation biophysics research. This
and clarifications from the Department of 4.Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane's will not only more than double the beam
Science and Technology (DST) and announcement during her address at the time available for research, thereby
National Treasury (NT) on the business COMEX6 conference that the iThemba providing more beam time for student
case submitted by iThemba LABS for SAIF LABS SAIF project is supported by her training projects, but it will also enhance
Phase 1. During the two months period, Ministry, and that she has engaged with the training of accelerator physicists,
several positive steps and outcomes were the Minister of Finance to provide funding engineers and technicians.
achieved. These include (amongst others): for the project.

iThemba LABS News
21 January 2019 Volume 3 Issue1