The Landmark Wits Science Innovation Day: Sparking Commercial Breakthroughs
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa's premier research institution, recently hosted its Science Innovation Day, a groundbreaking event that highlighted the Faculty of Science's most promising research ideas with clear paths to commercial success. Held in collaboration with the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) and Wits Commercial Enterprise, this faculty-wide showcase moved beyond traditional academic presentations to focus on real-world applications, drawing together students, staff, researchers, and industry stakeholders. The event underscored Wits' commitment to transforming cutting-edge science into viable businesses, addressing pressing South African challenges like environmental pollution, healthcare gaps, and energy access.
In a country where university research commercialization remains low—estimated at just 1% of outputs turning into marketable products—Wits is leading the charge. Ranked as sub-Saharan Africa's top university for innovation performance in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, Wits exemplifies how higher education can drive economic growth. Professor Nithaya Chetty, Dean of Science, emphasized, “Innovation must become part of our institutional DNA,” signaling a cultural shift from 'publish or perish' to 'innovate for impact.'
This initiative aligns with South Africa's National Development Plan, which calls for universities to bridge the academia-industry divide and foster entrepreneurship amid high youth unemployment rates exceeding 45%.
Transforming Agricultural Waste: A Sustainable Solution for Landfill Leachate
One standout project was led by postgraduate student Makhamati Sello and her team, focusing on using agricultural waste to pre-treat landfill leachate. Leachate, the toxic liquid produced when rainwater percolates through decomposing waste in landfills, poses severe environmental and health risks in South Africa, where landfills like those in Johannesburg generate millions of liters annually. Conventional treatments involve expensive chemical processes that often produce secondary pollutants.
Sello's approach leverages abundant, low-cost agri waste—such as banana peels, corn cobs, and lemon peels—in a bio-adsorption process. Step-by-step, the method involves:
- Collecting and preparing agri waste through drying and grinding to increase surface area.
- Activating the waste with mild chemicals to enhance adsorption capacity.
- Applying it to leachate in batch experiments, where it binds heavy metals and organics effectively, as proven in lab tests.
- Regenerating the waste for reuse, minimizing costs and waste.
ComplEX Lab's Pipeline: Accelerating Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases
The ComplEX Drug Discovery Lab showcased a streamlined drug design pipeline targeting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which affect over 1 million South Africans amid an aging population. Led by lab members including Cheyann Dare, the process integrates computational modeling with wet-lab validation to slash development timelines from years to months.
Key steps include:
- Virtual screening of compound libraries using AI-driven models to predict binding efficacy.
- Chemical synthesis of top candidates in Wits' facilities.
- In vitro testing for efficacy and toxicity.
- Iterative refinement based on functional assays.
Researchers interested in drug discovery can explore clinical research jobs across South Africa.
Earth Quest Solutions: Geoscience for Sustainable Funding
Dr. Sarah Glynn, Solutions Manager at Earth Quest—a Wits School of Geosciences spin-off—presented a model for self-funding research through commercial services. Facing chronic funding shortages, Earth Quest offers consulting, lab analysis via Virtual SIMS Laboratory, and geotourism experiences, generating revenue for an endowment fund.
Services include:
- Geometallurgy and mineral analysis for mining firms.
- X-Ray Fluorescence testing for environmental samples.
- Educational geotours highlighting South Africa's geological heritage, like the Cradle of Humankind.
Mushroom X: Revolutionizing Academia-Industry Matchmaking
Funanani Mavhunga's Mushroom X (MushXroom) platform acts as a 'knowledge discovery engine,' registering researchers' expertise and industry challenges to foster collaborations. In SA, where 60% of universities lack robust spin-off mechanisms, this bridges the gap.
Users register online, post opportunities, and get matched—leading to an inaugural commercial deal. Mavhunga said, “The real power of knowledge is when it’s applied.” Ideal for South Africa university jobs in innovation.
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Kagome Lattice Materials: Powering Future Technologies
Lethabo Makgato from the Material Physics Research Institute explored Kagome lattice structures—named after the Japanese basket weave pattern—for their exotic properties like flat bands and Dirac fermions. These enable:
| Property | Application |
|---|---|
| Magnetism & Superconductivity | Quantum sensors |
| Thermoelectricity | Waste heat to electricity |
Wits' Innovation Ecosystem: From Idea to Impact
The Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) orchestrates support via IP protection, prototyping at Innovation Systems Lab, and commercialization through Wits Commercial Enterprise. Recent highlights include a visit by African tech transfer officers learning IRLs (Innovation Readiness Levels). Programs like PGDip in Science Innovation equip talents.
Benefits:
- Holistic pathway per 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
- Multidisciplinary silos broken.
- Sunsetting unused IP for efficiency.
Success Stories: Wits Spin-Outs Making Waves
PeCo Power, a Wits spin-out under Prof. Willie Cronje, won the 2026 IEEE Empower a Billion Lives award for modular power bricks delivering safe electricity to informal settlements—bypassing grid issues amid load-shedding. Rent-to-own models empower communities.
Pelebox, another success, uses smart lockers for chronic meds, improving adherence in underserved areas. These stories highlight Wits' 13 patents in 2024, fueling startups. Check faculty jobs to join.
Navigating Commercialization Challenges in South African Higher Education
Despite SA's top-30 global research output, commercialization lags due to funding shortages and skills gaps. Wits counters with targeted support, inspiring other unis. Stakeholders like industry partners praise matchmaking platforms.
Impacts:
- Job creation: Spin-outs employ graduates.
- Societal: Agri solutions aid food security.
- Economic: Potential GDP boost via IP.
Future Horizons: Scaling Innovation Across Africa
With African tech officers visiting and programs like Royal Academy of Engineering exchanges, Wits eyes continental leadership. Upcoming: More faculty events, expanded spin-outs. Students can apply for scholarships in innovation fields.
Actionable insights: Register ideas at WIC, pursue PGDip, network via events. Wits positions itself—and SA higher ed—as innovation hubs.
Photo by Siwi Pratiwi on Unsplash
Get Involved: Careers and Opportunities in Higher Ed Innovation
Whether you're a researcher eyeing university jobs, a prof sharing feedback on Rate My Professor, or seeking career advice, AcademicJobs.com connects you. Explore higher ed jobs in SA, ZA opportunities, and post a job to attract talent.
