The strategic priorities of the Academy are closely matched to those of the nation.

The priorities focus particularly on the need for the greatly enhanced availability of high-level human capital and an increased use of the country’s best intellectual expertise in generating evidence-based science advice in support of policy development.

The Academy is aligned to national policy as dictated in the White Paper on Science and Technology and the National Research and Development Strategy. It also seeks, through its studies and convening activities, to address the triple challenges of the reduction of poverty, unemployment and inequality, as enunciated in the National Development Plan (NDP).