Inaugural SA Innovation Week

Hosted by:

SA Innovation Week Innovate. Connect. Transform
About the Event

The National Platform for Innovation

SA Innovation Week 2026 (SAIW’26) is being established as South Africa’s official National Innovation Platform — a coordinated, unconference, deal-making, outcomes-driven initiative designed to accelerate implementation,  commercialisation, and measurable national impact.

Deal-Making Platform

01

SAIW’26 is a deal-making and transaction-driven platform.

Unconference

02

This is not a talk shop. It is a marketplace for innovation.

Co-Created Roadmap

03

Contribute to a coordinated national innovation agenda.

What to Expect

Festival-Style Environment

SAIW’ 26 is designed as a week-long national programme to feature provincial innovation engagements across South Africa. From 16 – 17 March, Provinces will showcase local innovation strengths, emerging enterprises and sectoral capabilities. These decentralised activities will culminate in a flagship three-day event at NASREC from 18 – 20 March.

Showcase & Commercialise

Move beyond static prototypes and see innovation that works. We feature validated, market-ready technologies that are poised for immediate scale. This platform is designed to prove commercial viability to buyers, ensuring that local R&D translates into tangible products that solve real-world industry challenges.

Market Access

We are breaking down the barriers between local innovators and global supply chains. This stream facilitates direct engagement with corporate procurement leads and industry partners looking for solutions. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of South African technology into mainstream industrial workflows.

Investment & Funding

Enter a structured environment designed strictly for capital alignment. We connect verified startups with a mix of venture capital, institutional investors, and grant funders. Our focus is on matching the right stage of capital to the right stage of innovation to fuel sustainable, long-term growth.

Network & Collaborate

Experience the quadruple helix model in action. We bring together government policymakers, academic researchers, and private sector leaders in a single space. We curate meaningful collisions that move beyond exchanging business cards to forming long-term, cross-sector partnerships.

Expert Talks & Unconference

Engage in unfiltered dialogue on the state of the ecosystem. These sessions prioritise audience participation and peer-to-peer learning over traditional lectures. Expect rigorous debate on policy gaps, regulatory hurdles, and the practical realities of building scalable businesses in Africa.

Workshops & Masterclasses

Join deep dives into the technical and business skills required for success. From intellectual property protection to advanced financial modeling, these sessions provide a practical toolkit. Experts guide you through the specific “how-to” of commercialisation to ensure you leave with actionable strategies.

Why Participate

Driving Innovation in Action

SAIW’26 offers stakeholders the opportunity to move beyond ideation, and into implementation.

Secure funding and commercial partnerships 

Engage with national decision-makers 

Shape sectoral innovation priorities 

Announce strategic commitments 

Contribute to a coordinated national innovation agenda 

Source investment-ready innovation 

Join the Movement

Where innovation meets capital and industry for national impact

Whether you are an innovator, investor, or policymaker—SAIW’26 is your platform.