South Africa will host its first-ever National Innovation Week with the launch of SA Innovation Week 2026 (SAIW’26), a bold new initiative designed to unify the country’s innovation landscape under one coordinated national platform.
Historically, South Africa’s innovation ecosystem has operated in a fragmented manner, with capital, talent, industry demand, and public-sector priorities often working in parallel rather than in partnership. SAIW’26 aims to change this by convening stakeholders across the ecosystem to strengthen national competitiveness, accelerate commercialisation, broaden participation, and drive measurable economic and social impact.
The 2026 edition marks the beginning of what is envisioned as a long-term national movement. The week will culminate in a dynamic, festival-style event that brings together innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. The programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, live podcast recordings, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, and interactive activations, all centred around the “quadruple helix” model of innovation: government, industry, academia, and society.
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Dates:
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Wednesday, 18 March 2026 (08:30–17:00)
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Thursday, 19 March 2026 (08:30–17:00)
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Friday, 20 March 2026 (08:30–13:00) – Special half-day Founders Masterclasses
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Venue: NASREC
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Format: Festival-style innovation event
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Food: A variety of food trucks will be available on site
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/bdk2fuuf
