Programme

Date

time

Where

Venue

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 

09:00 - 11:00

 

Opening Ceremony

(Science Campus, Florida)

 

Join us for the Unisa Innovation Festival opening at the Science Campus, featuring exciting exhibitions and poster presentations showcasing student innovation and research excellence. Experience the creativity shaping tomorrow’s technologies and enjoy an exclusive tour of the Science Campus’ state-of-the-art laboratories

Virtual link: https://youtube.com/live/YYWdwzItH5w?feature=share

Programme Director: Prof Usisipho Feleni, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET)

 

09:30

Official Opening Address

Ms Mathabo Nakene-Mgingqi

Chief Information Officer and Vice-Principal: ICT, Unisa

 

09:45

Overview of CSET Strategic Projects and Facilities

Prof Thembela Hillie, CSET Innovation Centre

 

09:53

Overview of CAES - Strategic Projects and Facilities

Prof Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, CAES Executive Dean (Acting)

 

10:00

Keynote Address

Prof Ben Anderson, Co-founder/Executive Director, DaVinci Institute

 

10:45

Q&A Session

 

11:00

Closing

 

 

Marquee

Mapungubwe Parking Area

 

11:00-11:15

 

Refreshments

Showcasing Unisa’s Innovation Capital

11:15-13:00

 

Crucible Pitches

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. 

(Designated pitching area)

Exhibitions

  • Radio astronomy instrumentation
  • Educational drones
  • Water, waste and environmental management
  • Innovative pilot scale membrane reactors and advanced technology systems
  • Robotics
  • Column reactor for launching reactive oxygen species
  • Semi-automatic Prosthesis leg
  • Pneumatic actuated prosthetic foot
  • UV Catalytic Reactor
  • Desalination of Sea
  • Borehole Water Catalytic Reactor
  • Solar Thermal Energy Absorber
  • Storage of Thermal Energy
  • Conversion of Solar Thermal Energy to Electricity
  • Integrated Technology Combining Granular Filtration, Advanced Oxidation, and Membrane Filtration for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment
  • Solar Car 2025 Model
  • Walking Stick
  • Pawing Machine
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Geography
  • Horticulture
  • Astronomy
  • Photocatalytic Ozone Reactor
  • Nano bubble Reactor
  • Sea Water Desalination System
  • Hollow Fibre Module
  • Ultrafiltration system
  • Chemical Reactor
  • Biosensor System

(Designated Exhibition areas)

 

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 16:00

Lab Tours

Tour guides:

  • CAES
  • Prof Salerwe Mosebi
  • Dr Motlokwe Thobejane
  • CSET
  • Engineering Labs. Dr Kabelo Ledwaba
  • iNanoWS Labs. Dr Nontokozo Magwaza
  • Physics Labs. Prof Luyanda Noto
  • Chemistry Labs. Dr Nomampondo Magwa

 

Labs:

  • Wetlabs
  • BioLabs
  • Electronics Labs
  • Social Innovation lab
  • Product Development Technology Station
  • Department: Electrical Engineering
  • Department: Mechanical Engineering
  • Hollow Fiber Spinning Centre
  • Department: Physics
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Biotechnology Labs
  • UNISA CAES laboratories
  • Department: Chemical Engineering
  • ICES laboratories

Judging of exhibitions and posters

  • Undergraduate, Honours, and Postgraduate Diplomas
  • Masters/MSc
  • Doctoral/PhD
  • Post-Doctoral

(Designated exhibition areas)

Postgraduate Student Showcase

Kgorong Building, Muckleneuk Campus

The 2025 Annual Unisa Research & Innovation Postgraduate Student Showcase features solutions from Masters and Doctoral students which address critical needs and challenges faced by society. Postgraduate students will present their innovative findings and ideas while networking with peers, reputable academics and industry leaders.

 

09:00 – 11:00

Opening Ceremony link:

https://youtube.com/live/YYWdwzItH5w?feature=share

 

Function Hall, Kgorong Building

11:00 – 13:00

Natural and Physical Sciences

Bamboo Auditorium

Kgorong Building


https://bit.ly/Showcase-Natural-Physical-Room2

Social Sciences


4th Floor Function Venue

Kgorong Building


https://bit.ly/Showcase-Social-Room1


 

Humanities


Conference Room 5

Kgorong Building


https://bit.ly/Showcase-
Arts-Humanities-Room3

13:00 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 16:00

Natural and Physical Sciences

Bamboo Auditorium

Kgorong Building


https://bit.ly/Showcase-Natural-Physical-Room2

Social Sciences


4th Floor Function Venue

Kgorong Building

https://bit.ly/Showcase-Social-Room1


 

Humanities


Conference Room 5

Kgorong Building


https://bit.ly/Showcase-
Arts-Humanities-Room3

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


Virtual link

https://youtube.com/live/MhlEj3zAzwM?feature=share

Protea Restaurant

ORT Building

 09:30 -11:00

The Forge - Unisa Innovation Challenge Final

Virtual link:

https://youtube.com/live/ItKvJS9yEig?feature=share


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 Finals

Virtual link:

https://youtube.com/live/ItKvJS9yEig?feature=share


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 Finals

Virtual link: https://youtube.com/live/XWiTafy4QcU?feature=share 

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 Finals

Virtual link: https://youtube.com/live/XWiTafy4QcU?feature=share

Exam Hall 1B Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building

 

16:30

Closure

 

Thursday, 20 November 2025

Unisa Innovation Festival Closing Ceremony

Enoch Sontonga Auditorium,  Building 2, Sunnyside Campus

 

Virtual link:

https://youtube.com/live/D6b1HVq_NTE?feature=share

10:00 – 13:00

Programme Director: Ntokozo Khumalo, New Anchor, Newzroom Africa

 

10:30

Welcome address

 

10:45

Keynote Speaker

Ms Noxolo Fani, CEO, Phenomenal Light Construction

 

10:30

Entertainment

 

10:45

Certifications

 

Posters and exhibitions

  • Undergraduate, Honours, and Postgraduate Diplomas
  • Masters/MSc
  • Doctoral/PhD
  • Post-Doctoral

 

Unisa Postgraduate Student Showcase

  • Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Humanity Sciences

 

11:30

Entertainment


11:45

Certifications continue

 

The Crucible

The Forge

Tshwane Youth Innovation Challenge

Innovation Pioneers Programme

 

12:15

Entertainment

12:45

Innovation Festival highlights

 

12:50

Closing

 

Group photos

 

13:00

Lunch