A cohort of young South African scientists will represent the country at the 8th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Economic Sciences (#LINOecon) in Lindau, Germany, from 26 to 30 August 2025.
They were chosen through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process conducted by ASSAf, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), and the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.
The gathering will bring together around 400 carefully selected young scientists from across the globe to engage in dialogue with Nobel Laureates.
This year’s meeting will feature 20 Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences and participants from more than 60 countries, including South Africa. The programme will include panel discussions on urgent global issues such as the stability of financial systems, climate change, and the role of institutions in economic development. Young scientists will also present their research in the Next Gen Science Sessions.
The 2025 theme draws inspiration from the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson. Their pioneering research on inclusive and extractive institutions has reshaped our understanding of how history and governance influence economic growth and long-term prosperity.
As the official partner of the Lindau Foundation, and with support from DSTI, ASSAf annually nominates outstanding early-career researchers to participate in this prestigious international forum. The Lindau Meetings provide a platform for young scientists to interact with Nobel Laureates, exchange ideas on frontier research, explore career development opportunities, and tackle the world’s most pressing economic challenges.
They are:
- Dr Unathi Thango, an early-career researcher with a focus on lean manufacturing, quality management, and organisational efficiency in the public sector. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA)
- Nyemwererai Blessing Matshaka, a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Pretoria. Her research focuses on macroeconomic policy in an unequal society, with a particular interest in monetary and fiscal policy, inequality, and innovation.
- Dr Ifeoma Anthonia Iwegbunam, who graduated with a PhD in Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently a research fellow, and her fields of interest include monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and public finance.
- Letshego Mancoe is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Pretoria. Her research explores the dynamics of intergenerational mobility, focusing on how socio-economic and cultural factors influence educational outcomes across generations in Africa.