Unisa Innovation Festival 2023

Programme

The full programme is available to download, click here.

Monday, 27 November (09:00-15:30)

09:00 - 10:30 | Customer Discovery Workshop

Presenters:

  • Mr Yongama Skweyiya
    Manager: Commercialisation, Directorate Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (DITTC) 
  • Mr Basanda Pongoma
    Business Development Specialist: Start-Up Academy, Directorate Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (DITTC) 

Venue:

Council Chambers, Room 02-056, NB Pityana Building, Florida Science Campus, Johannesburg

10:30 - 10:45 | Refreshments

Venue:

Council Chambers

10:45 - 13:00 | Customer Discovery Workshop

Continuation of workshop

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch

Venue:

Council Chambers

14:00 - 15:30 | Customer Discovery Workshop

Continuation of workshop

The full programme is available to download, click here.

Tuesday, 28 November (09:00-16:00)

09:00 - 09:35 | Formal opening - R&I Postgraduate Student Showcase

Theme: “The new digital era: Navigating the good, the challenging and the unknown”

Venue:

Bamboo Auditorium (Kgorong Building, Room 3-48), Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria 
ORJoin the session on MS Teams:  https://bit.ly/Opening_RI_PGStudent_Showcase 

09:35 - 09:55 | Refreshments

Venue:

Bamboo foyer

10:00 - 16:00 | R&I Postgraduate Student Showcase 

Pitching session #1
Social Sciences (CAS, CEDU, CEMS, CLAW & SBL) 

Venue:

Bamboo Auditorium (Kgorong Building, Room 3-48)
ORJoin the session on MS Teams:  https://bit.ly/Room1_SocialSciences_Showcase 

10:00 - 12:00 | R&I Postgraduate  Student Showcase 

Pitching session #2
Natural & Physical Sciences (CAES & CSET )

Venue:

Conference Room 3 (Kgorong Building Room: 1:71)
ORJoin the session on MS Teams:  https://bit.ly/Room2_NaturalPhysical_Showcase 

10:00 - 17:00 | R&I Postgraduate Student Showcase 

Pitching session #3
Arts & Humanities (CHS) 

Venue:

Conference Room 5 (Kgorong Building Room 1:60)
Join the session on MS Teams:  https://bit.ly/Room3_ArtsHuman_Showcase 

12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch break

15:20 - 16:00 | Break

The full programme is available to download, click here.

Wednesday, 29 November (09:00-15:30)

09:00 - 10:30 | Festival Formal Opening 

Programme Director:

Sipho Nxasana
Senior Innovation Specialist City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

In context:

Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa
Vice Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Unisa

Welcome:

Prof Puleng LenkaBula
Principal and Vice Chancellor, Unisa

Keynote address:

Dr Mlungisi Cele
Chief Executive Officer, National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI)

Venue:

Senate Hall, 2nd Floor Winnie-Madikizela Mandela Building, Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria

Exhibition:

Foyer, outside Senate Hall

10:30 - 10:45 | Refreshments

Venue:

Senate Hall Foyer

10:45 - 13:00 | Panel Discussion 

From white paper to socio economic impact – the continuing role of Higher Educations Institutions

Hear views from leading  industry partners, funders,  government and HEIs.

Moderator:

Isaiah Engelbrecht
Executive Director: Innovation
City of Tshwane

Panellists:

Funeka Khumalo
Co-founder and Executive Director, Kevali Chemicals

Nontombi Maseko
Director, Innovation and Technology Policy and Strategy Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)

Dr Mukhove Masutha
Deputy Chair, Centre for Emerging Researchers University of Johannesburg

Dr Rebecca Maserumule
Chief Director: Hydrogen and Energy at the National. Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch

Venue:

Exam Hall 2

14:00 - 15:30 | The Crucible 

Virtual Link:

https://youtube.com/live/VPOWZgH6Nrc?feature=share

Start-up Academy pitches

Based on the popular Dragon’s Den – the Crucible helps young entrepreneurs to hone their skills with guidance from leading industry judges.

Judges:

Sona Mahendra
Venture Builder, Founders' Factory

Brian Mphahlele
Executive, Commercialisation Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

Danie Pienaar
Partner and Patent Attorney, Spoor & Fisher 

The full programme is available to download, click here.

Thursday, 30 November (09:00-15:30)

09:00 - 10:30 | Formal opening

Virtual Link:

https://youtube.com/live/RXMwa3a3RBE?feature=share

Keynote address:

Dr Zolani Dyosi
Director: KAS
Knowledge Advancement and Support (KAS)

A South African model for Government/Academic/SME innovation and technology development  partnership: A case for renewable energy innovations

Panel Discussion:

Key Industry Partners discuss  innovation offerings

Venue:

Thamsanqa Kambule Auditorium, Florida Science Campus, Johannesburg

10:30 - 11:00 | Refreshments 

Venue:

Thamsanqa Kambule Auditorium foyer

10:45 - 13:00 | Exhibition

Venue: Mapungubwe parking area

Exhibition

Solar car; Rand Water prototypes; Solar reactor system; Chemical Engineering, Craft beer project; Indigenous plants; Vegetables; Fruits; Hydroponics system; MushMag 5000; Spawn; Substrates; Biscuits; The Innovation Hub; Astrophysics; Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); Hahn and Hahn; Spoor and Fisher; Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys; Adams and Adams; Directorate: Innovation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (DITTC)

Guided tours

Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Hollow Fiber Spinning Centre; Physics; Chemistry UNISA CAES laboratories

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch

Venue:

Thamsanqa Kambule Auditorium foyer

14:00 - 15:30 | Exhibition

Continuation of Guided tours

10:30 - 11:00 | Refreshments

Venue:

Bamboo Foyer, Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria

11:00 - 12:00 | Open session

Virtual Link:

https://youtube.com/live/mqGjnlvmtog?feature=share

City of Tshwane

The Role of HEIs in Knowledge/Smart Cities

Venue:

Bamboo Auditorium, Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria

12:00 - 13:00 | Closed session

City of Tshwane AGM 

Venue:

Bamboo Auditorium, Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch (City of Tshwane)

Venue:

Bamboo Foyer,  Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria

The full programme is available to download, click here.

Friday, 1 December (09:00-14:00)

09:00 - 10:30 | The Forge 

Virtual Link:

https://youtube.com/live/PBEpe3OEzv4?feature=share

Programme Director:

Mr Sipho Nxasana
Senior Innovation Specialist City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Watch students as they pitch their innovations to a team of industry judges.

Judges:

Mahlatse Tolamo
Enabler/Manager Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
22 on Sloane

Tshembani Khupane
Senior Programme Manager Seed Fund
Technology Innovation Agency

Dr Hamilton Mphidi
Head, Innovation and Technology Transfer
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

Dr Phuti Chelopo Mgobozi
Acting Senior Manager
Bio-Economy
The Innovation Hub

Thandanani Cwele
Candidate Attorney, Spoor & Fisher

Venue:

Cullinan 1, Southern Sun Pretoria, Cnr Steve Biko and Pretorius Streets, Arcadia, Pretoria

10:30 - 10:45 | Refreshments

Venue:

Foyer, Cullinan 1

10:45 - 13:00 | Closing ceremony and Awards 

Virtual Link:

https://youtube.com/live/PBEpe3OEzv4?feature=share

Keynote address

Choice Awards
Showcase Awards
The Forge
The Crucible
#Posted the Most
CSET/CAES awards

13:00 - 14:00 | Awards luncheon

Venue:

Foyer, Cullinan 2

The full programme is available to download, click here.