Resumo

MATHIPA-MDAKANE, Moloko G.  e  NXUMALO, Michael. Capitalising on 'the missing middle' dilemma to strengthen South Africa's research pipeline. S. Afr. j. sci. [online]. 2025, vol.121, n.3-4, pp.1-3. ISSN 1996-7489.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2025/20144.

SIGNIFICANCE: Mid-career researchers are at risk of falling into a critical gap in which they are no longer eligible for early-career support, but not yet fully prominent enough for established grants. This lack of strategic funding creates a precarious position that threatens to stall their innovative potential and curb the progress of South Africa's research ecosystem. Are funders, institutions, and society unintentionally sidelining this crucial talent pool? The future of research and groundbreaking innovation hinges on intentional investment in mid-career researchers. By creating targeted funding opportunities and developing a more inclusive environment, funders can bridge this gap, turning the untapped potential of these researchers into the driving force behind long-term academic and scientific excellence. Now, more than ever, we must ask ourselves: can we afford not to invest in the researchers who will shape tomorrow's breakthroughs?

Palavras-chave : mid-career researcher; strategic funding; collaborations; South Africa.

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