Programme

Date

time

Where

Venue

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 

09:00 - 11:00

 

Opening Ceremony

(Science Campus, Florida)

 

Programme Director: TBA

 

Welcome Address

Keynote Speaker

Prof Benjamin Anderson, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Da Vinci Institute

Outline of the programme for the Festival

Closure of the session

 

 

Marquee

Mapungubwe Parking Area

 

11:00-11:15

 

Refreshments

11:15-13:00

 

Crucible Pitches

(Designated pitching area)

 

Student-led start-ups within the UniVentures and staff recipients of the Innovation Support programmes will pitch their innovative ideas. Participants stand to win prizes sponsored by AWS, IDC, and other sponsors. 

Exhibitions

(Designated Exhibition areas)

 

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 16:00

Lab Tours

  • Wetlabs
  • BioLabs
  • Electronics Labs
  • Social Innovation lab
  • Product Development Technology Station

Judging of exhibitions and posters

(Designated exhibition areas)

Postgraduate Student Showcase

Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus

 

09:00 – 11:00

Link to the Opening Ceremony

 

Function Hall, Kgorong Building

11:00 – 13:00

Natural and Physical Sciences

Bamboo Auditorium

Kgorong Building

 

Social Sciences


4th Floor Function Venue

Kgorong Building

Humanities


Conference Room 5

Kgorong Building

13:00 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 16:00

Natural and Physical Sciences

Bamboo Auditorium

Kgorong Building


 

Social Sciences


4th Floor Function Venue

Kgorong Building

Humanities


Conference Room 5

Kgorong Building

16:00

End of the sessions

 

Pitching Sessions for various Innovation Challenges

Kgorong Building

Wednesday, 19 November 2025

 

09:30-15:00

City of Tshwane Workshop

Bamboo Auditorium

Kgorong Building

 09:30 -11:00

The Forge - Unisa Innovation Challenge Finalists (Live)

Exam Hall 1B

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

Sixteen innovative projects going head-to-head for the coveted Innovation Challenge prizes which include Seed Funding, Mentorship, Incubation valued at over R2,15 million in total.

 

(Closed Session)

Innovation Pioneers Programme

Exam Hall 1A

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

 

11:00 – 11:30

Refreshments. Exam Hall 2A

11:30 – 12:30

The Forge - Unisa Innovation Challenge Finalists (Live)

Exam Hall 1B

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

(Closed Session)

Innovation Pioneers Programme

Exam Hall 1A

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

12:30 – 13:00

Lunch. Exam Hall 2A

13:00 – 15:00

Tshwane Youth Innovation Challenge Finalists (Live)

Transformative solutions and visionary thinking from across the academic landscape. Unisa students will present designs offering low-cost, green energy solutions for informal and low-income housing, drive awareness and encourage the use of solar energy.

Exam Hall 1B Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

15:00 – 15:15

Refreshments. Exam Hall 2A

 

15:15 – 16:30

Tshwane Youth Innovation Challenge Finalists (Live)

Exam Hall 1B Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

16:30

Closure

 

Thursday, 20 November 2025

Unisa Innovation Festival Closing Ceremony

Enoch Sontonga Auditorium, Sunnyside Campus

 

10:00 – 13:00

Programme Director 

Welcome address TBA

Keynote Speaker: Ms Noxolo Fani, CEO, Phenomenal Light Construction

Entertainment

Closure