NRF Connect Guide
NRF Connect is a set of separate fields. Each field has its own job and limit. Get each field right, then check that all fields describe the same project.
Portal details were checked against DSL screenshot evidence and live portal testing on 3 July 2026. NRF Connect remains the authority if the live portal differs. Limits are ceilings, not targets.
Anything marked check live must be confirmed in NRF Connect before submission.
Use this first. It shows what you must complete yourself, what we helped you draft, and what still needs live checking.
Complete these from your own CV and records. We do not write these for you, but they must not be blank.
Paste from your final reviewed draft, stay under the ceiling rather than at it, and keep every section in its own NRF field.
Choose the best fit from the live portal. The screenshot lists below are partial and must not replace what NRF Connect shows you.
Pasting is not submitting. Save, reopen, validate, submit, and screenshot success or the exact error stopping you.
Use this as your final check before pasting into NRF Connect.
| Section | NRF field | Limit / value | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Shell | Personal profile, CV and account sections | Varies by section | You complete yourself |
| Basic Information | Institution | Required typeahead; exact Wits option must be confirmed live | You complete yourself / check live |
| Basic Information | Short title of the project | 125 characters | We draft with you |
| Basic Information | Project title descriptor / short abstract | 2000 characters | We draft with you |
| Basic Information | Funding start year | Shown as 2027 | You complete yourself |
| Basic Information | Select max funding years | Required dropdown; options not captured | Check live |
| Project Outline | Project Outline | 6000 characters including spaces | We draft with you |
| Science Engagement | Category and four required prompts | Limits not visible - check live | We draft with you / check live |
| Alignment to National Imperatives | Sustainability Development Goals | Dropdown captured partially; justification must be checked live | You select / we sanity-check |
| Alignment to National Imperatives | NRF Broad Categories | 2048-character justification; options not captured | You select / we sanity-check |
| Alignment to National Imperatives | National Priorities | 2048-character justification | You select / we sanity-check |
| Alignment to National Imperatives | National Strategy | 2048-character justification | You select / we sanity-check |
| Additional Information | Additional Information | 6000 characters | We draft with you |
| Submission Proof | Final validation / submit / receipt page | No text limit; screenshot required | You complete yourself |
Keep the content specific. A busy reviewer should understand the project in one pass.
Include: Institution, short title, descriptor or short abstract, funding start year, and max funding years.
Pointer: Confirm the institution and funding-years dropdowns live. The short title and descriptor come from your reviewed draft.
Include: Make the full academic case: bounded problem, knowledge gap, research question, aim, objectives, method, evidence, baseline, feasibility, ethics, and contribution.
Pointer: Do not write to 5999. Keep a 5500-5800 character version and a 5000-character fallback.
Include: Answer each prompt separately: audience, why/outcome, how you will engage, and how you will assess broader impact.
Pointer: Do not paste one generic outreach paragraph into all four boxes. Each box has a different job.
Include: Choose honest best-fit options for SDGs, NRF Broad Categories, National Priorities, and National Strategy. Link each choice to your actual aim, method, and output.
Pointer: Do not paste policy language. If the same paragraph fits every project, it is too generic.
Include: Add only useful support: special circumstances, resources, access, ethics route, outputs, technology transfer, or local context not covered elsewhere.
Pointer: Do not repeat the abstract or outline just to fill space. This field supports the case; it should not carry the whole case.
Include: Complete your profile, qualifications, funding, financial need, category, geography, declarations, uploads, validation, and submission receipt.
Pointer: A strong proposal can still fail submission readiness if the account sections are incomplete.
Answer all four prompts separately. Do not paste one generic paragraph into every box.
Limit: no visible maximum in the screenshots. Write tight and check live.
These are self-service NRF profile or application fields. They are not proposal sections, but incomplete fields can block final submission.
For SDGs, NRF Broad Categories, National Priorities, and National Strategy, choose the best fit for your actual project. The justification must explain the link through your aim, method, output, and South African relevance.
Do not add a new project aim inside the alignment section. It must match the title, outline, and science engagement plan.
These are options seen in screenshots on 3 July 2026. The live portal list is authoritative and may include more options.
SDGs seen: Affordable and Clean Energy; Clean Water and Sanitation; Climate Action; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Gender Equality; Good Health and Well-being; Industry Innovation and Infrastructure; Life Below Water; Life on Land; No Poverty; Partnership and Goal; Peace Justice and Strong Institutions; Quality Education; Reduced Inequalities; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Zero Hunger.
National Strategy seen: African Union Agenda 2063 (AU 2063); Geographic Advantage - Biodiversity; Geographic Advantage - Human Palaeontology; Geographic Advantage - Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Geographic Advantage - Marine and Antarctic Research; Grand Challenge - Astronomy; Grand Challenge - Bio Economy; Grand Challenge - Energy Security; Grand Challenge - Global Change; Grand Challenge - Human and Social Dynamics; Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA 2024).
