The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the SA Innovation Summit (SAIS), will host the inaugural SA Innovation Week 2026 (SAIW’26) from 16 to 20 March 2026.
The first phase on 16 and 17 March will see nationwide innovation showcase activities executed by ecosystem enablers in various provinces, culminating in a three-day (18 to 20 March) innovation festival at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
The Innovation Week is the result of a nationally coordinated platform that brings together innovation, investment, research, industry and public-sector priorities in a more integrated and collaborative way.
SAIW’26 will feature provincial innovation engagements across South Africa, providing provinces with an opportunity to showcase local innovation strengths, emerging enterprises and sectoral capabilities.
These decentralised activities will culminate in a flagship three-day event at Nasrec, where innovators, investors, corporates, researchers and policymakers from across the country will convene.
“Fundamentally, SAIW’26 is about connecting entrepreneurs to capital and corporate supply chains and connecting capital and corporate to locally developed innovative technologies,” says Ismail Abdoola, acting CEO of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
“One of the key challenges in the innovation value chain is ensuring that new technologies and innovations are commercialised. We are proud to be part of this inaugural movement as it aligns with our strategic role as a connector, facilitator and enabler.
“The SA Innovation Week brings together critical parts of the system — research, funding, and industry — to help strengthen these much-needed linkages and accelerate industry development and sustainability.”
Buntu Majaja, SA Innovation Summit CEO, comments: “SAIW’26 is more than an event – it is about building a national operating system for innovation. This inaugural moment brings the ecosystem together to reset how we collaborate, invest, and translate innovation into inclusive growth for South Africa.
“Working together, we can help create more inclusive and scalable innovation outcomes that contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s development priorities.”
Participants and attendees at SAIW’26 can expect to see the following:
- Innovation showcase and demonstrations across priority technology and industry sectors;
- Funder–founder matchmaking and investor engagement sessions;
- Industry challenge rooms and solution-driven workshops;
- Dialogues aligned to national development and innovation priorities;
- Research and commercialisation exhibitions from universities and science councils; and
- Masterclasses, roundtables and collaborative working sessions aimed at unlocking partnerships and opportunities.