As South Africa prepares to mark National Science Week from 4 to 9 August under the theme “Science, technology and innovation are for everyone”, data and AI leader SAS is using this moment to call attention to the widening gap between mathematics, data literacy, and society at large. With 2025 also marking SAS’s 30th anniversary in South Africa, the company is doubling down on its commitment to accessible, ethical, and human-centred innovation.
“Science does not just live in labs and classrooms but is embedded in how we build, trade, govern, and communicate,” says David Cosgrave, Country Manager at SAS South Africa. “Yet, far too many South Africans still feel disconnected from that world. At SAS, our mission is to close the gap between people and data by making analytics not just a powerful tool, but something everyone can access, understand, and benefit from.”
That means investing not only in technology, but also in people. SAS supports a range of grassroots and academic initiatives designed to build local capacity in mathematics, coding, and AI. This includes early interventions like Coding4Mandela and Teachers4DataAnalytics, as well as targeted programmes such as the My Maths Buddy partnership with CM Vellem Primary School in Makhanda. Through this initiative, teachers received accredited training and learner kits that transformed confidence and comprehension in the classroom. This is vital given how reports show that approximately 82% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language, not to mention how South Africa’s maths performance ranks among the lowest globally.
“At its core, mathematics is the language of science. It is the key to unlocking the doors of opportunity in our digital economy. That is why we are so passionate about foundational skills. Without maths, data is meaningless,” says Cosgrave.
Beyond schools, SAS is also helping young people bridge the gap to careers in STEM through its Global Academic Program, which provides software, certifications, and real-world learning opportunities to more than 200 universities across Africa. The company’s partnership with North-West University’s Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics has produced over 500 postgraduates in high-demand fields such as risk analytics and actuarial science, with over 75% now employed by SAS customers.
To further widen access, SAS is championing low-code, no-code solutions that empower non-technical users to harness the full power of analytics. Its SAS Viya platform enables anyone, regardless of coding background, to explore data, build models, and make decisions grounded in insight.
“Innovation should not be gated behind a PhD. When tools are intuitive and inclusive, innovation becomes exponential,” adds Cosgrave.
This inclusive approach is also grounded in ethics and trust, a core SAS priority. The company has published principles of responsible innovation and continuously evolves its practices to ensure AI systems are transparent, explainable, and designed with humanity in mind. The choices organisations make today will shape public trust in technology for decades to come.
This year, SAS is also celebrating 30 years of operations in South Africa, a milestone Cosgrave describes as both a point of pride and a reminder of unfinished work.
“We have spent three decades helping organisations transform data into decisions. But now the real challenge is helping society understand and benefit from data. That is what National Science Week is about, and that is what our next 30 years must be about.”
As National Science Week invites stakeholders from all sectors to design public-facing activities, SAS will continue collaborating with schools, universities, and industry partners to bring science and technology closer to everyday South Africans, not just as spectators, but as participants and pioneers.