The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has particular strengths on research and development and patent data as it developed the Frascati Manual and the Oslo Manual which specify data definitions and classifications for these areas.
The OECD’s main science and technology indicators database provides a set of indicators that reflect the level and structure of efforts in the field of science and technology undertaken from 1981 onwards by OECD Member countries and other non-member economies, including South Africa. The indicators cover the resources devoted to research and development, patent families and international trade in research and development-intensive industries.