The categories are:

• Categories A, B and C: Awards for Individuals
  These awards are made to those three individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) in South Africa.
• Categories D, E and F: Research for Innovation by teams/individuals through organisations
  These three awards are made for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI) from either a team or an individual where it can be demonstrated that: (a) either research carried out in SA has led to new science which in turn has led to new engineering or medical or social concepts i.e. technology, or (b) where engineering or medical or social concepts i.e. technology which have been developed in SA and have been applied and have led to a successful innovation which takes on the form of either an accepted innovation in science, a project, or a product, or a range of products or a methodology or any other form of applied output completed in the recent past.
• Category G: Awards for Research Capacity Developers
  The purpose of these Awards is to recognise individuals regardless of nationality or citizenship or gender based in South Africa, who have during their careers demonstrated outstanding leadership in increasing the participation of Black Researchers in their chosen scientific, engineering and technological fields.
• Categories H and J: Awards to Black Researchers
  These awards, known as the TW Kambule NRF Research Awards, are made to those four black individuals in South Africa who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology and who represent role models for others to follow.
• Category K: Science Communication for Public Awareness
  The NSTF Science and Technology Communicator's Award is intended to encourage South African researchers, writers, educators and communicators (including journalists) to promote science and technology though conventional and/or innovative means.

The criteria for the selection of the award winners in all categories are summarised as:

• the contribution to the advancement of science/technological innovation/new knowledge generated -
• • the inputs to this contribution;
  • the research process;
  • the outputs;

• the practical application / implementation
• commercial or economic impact;
• relevance to South Africa and its people and resultant contribution to S&T policy;
• promotion of public understanding of science and technology;
• promotion of education in this field as a contribution to the public understanding of SET;
• social and economic sustainability;
• national and international recognition.

In assessing nominations in category G the following factors are considered together with the achievements of the nominee measured against the above criteria:

• the numbers of black South African postgraduate students trained who completed their studies;
• assistance to students to present and publish research work;
• providing mentorship, support and the development of essential skills in the world of business and work, and
• continued interest shown in the individuals’ professional advancement.

These criteria are expanded on fully in section 4, and the definitions of the categories, in Sections 8.1 to 8.5 accessed through the links. Brief details on the motivation for the nominations of all finalists, who by our definition is a nomination which could be a winner, will be presented in a comprehensive brochure and CD ROM to be made available at the dinner and to the Media.