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Inaugural Public Lecture · 2026 · City of Ekurhuleni

ST&I Public Lecture

The theme of the 2026 Lecture - “A Public-Private Partnership Model for Science and Innovation”

South Africa's inaugural national gathering on science, technology, and innovation policy — convening government, academia, and industry to forge a new university model for the African century.

We cannot change the past. We can shape the Future.

Date
8 July 2026
Time
17:00 – 20:00
Venue
Emperors Palace Convention Centre
Format
In-Person
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8 July 2026 Official event date
Emperors Palace Convention Centre Confirmed event venue
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About the 2026 Inaugural Lecture

Inaugural ST&I Public Lecture

The 2026 Inaugural ST&I Public Lecture is the ST&I Business Forum's flagship intellectual and policy-engagement event, designed as a landmark occasion in South Africa's science, technology and innovation calendar.

National Lecture 2026 Theme

An ST&I Public-Private Partnership Model for the Future.

Concept Note

2026 Lecture Concept Document

Read the official concept note covering the lecture rationale, strategic objectives, delegate profile, partnership opportunities, expected outputs, and delivery framework.

View Concept Note → Download PDF ↓

Presented in strategic partnership with Mail & Guardian, the Lecture will convene approximately 400 delegates from business, government, academia and civil society around South Africa's national science, technology and innovation agenda.

According to the concept note, the Lecture is intended to move beyond discussion into action through published proceedings, a structured ST&I policy brief, post-event media coverage, sponsor reporting, and a formal commitments register that extends the event's impact beyond the day itself.

2026 Speakers
Eight Voices.
One National Conversation.
Honourable Minister Prof Blade Nzimande
Government Voice
Honourable Minister Prof Blade Nzimande
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Republic of South Africa
Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande was appointed Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in July 2024, following senior Cabinet roles across higher education, science, technology and transport.
View Nzimande Profile →
Rodney D. Priestley
Academic Voice
Rodney D. Priestley
Dean of the Graduate School, Princeton University
Pomeroy and Betty Perry Smith Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Princeton Materials Institute.
View Priestley Profile →
Professor Bonang Mohale
Industry Voice
Professor Bonang Mohale
Chancellor of the University of the Free State; Former President of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA); Professor of Practice, Johannesburg Business School
A values-driven business leader, company chairman and best-selling author whose work spans industry, higher education, ethical leadership and national economic transformation.
View Mohale Profile →
Dr Stavros Nicolaou
Industry Voice
Dr Stavros Nicolaou
Group Senior Executive for Strategic Trade, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings
A pharmaceutical industry leader with nearly four decades of experience across strategic trade, localisation, healthcare access and public-private cooperation.
View Nicolaou Profile →
Dr Sybil Seoka
Industry Voice
Dr Sybil Seoka
Founder and Managing Director, Ample Resources (Pty) Ltd; Chairperson, PPS Holdings Trust
A healthcare leader, pharmacist, entrepreneur and governance specialist with over four decades of experience across regulation, academia, hospital pharmacy and health products.
View Seoka Profile →
Lena Miranda
Industry Voice
Lena Miranda
CEO, Linköping Science Park; Immediate Past President, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
An innovation ecosystem leader strengthening collaboration between industry, academia and the public sector to support entrepreneurship, growth and sustainable societal transformation.
View Miranda Profile →
Andrew Khutso Msiza
Industry Voice
Andrew Khutso Msiza
Research, Technology, Project and Engineering Management Executive
A chemical engineer and technology executive with experience across research, implementation, commissioning and optimisation of energy and petrochemical assets.
View Msiza Profile →
Zamanzima Mazibuko-Makena
Industry Voice
Zamanzima Mazibuko-Makena
Senior Researcher, Knowledge Economy and Scientific Advancement, MISTRA
An innovation studies researcher focused on inclusive systems of innovation, ST&I policy, technological change and socioeconomic development in Africa.
View Mazibuko-Makena Profile →

Additional speakers, titles and organisations will be confirmed and updated progressively.

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Programme

An Evening of
Substance.

◷ 17:00 – 20:15
◌
Programme Director: Dr Nomhle Ngwenya, CEO, ST&I Business Forum
◉
Inaugural ST&I Public Lecture · 08 July 2026
17:00 – 17:15
◐
Welcome

Introduction & Welcome Remarks

ST&I Business Forum and strategic partner Mail & Guardian, CEO Hoosain Karjieker
17:15 – 18:30
◍
Theme Session

Theme: “A Public-Private Partnership Model for Science and Innovation”

Prof Rodney Priestley, Princeton University, AWI; co-presented with Ms Zamanzima Mazibuko-Makena, Senior Researcher: Knowledge Economy and Scientific Advancement, MISTRA
18:30 – 19:00
◈
Ministerial Address

Public-Private Partnership Model for Building an Inclusive National System of Innovation (NSI), The Role of Business

Honourable Minister Prof Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
19:00 – 20:00
◉
Industry Voices

Public-Private Partnership Model – Reflections

Prof Bonang Mohale – Chancellor, University of the Free State; Former President, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA); Professor of Practice, Johannesburg Business School; Bidvest Group Independent Non-Executive Chairman
Dr Stavros Nicolaou – Group Senior Executive: Strategic Trade, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings; BRICS Business Council member
Dr Sybil Seoka – Founder and Managing Director, Ample Resources (Pty) Ltd; Chairperson, PPS Holdings Trust
Ms Lena Miranda – CEO, Linköping Science Park; Immediate Past President, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
Mr Andrew Khutso Msiza – Research, Technology, Project and Engineering Management Executive, Sasol
20:00 – 20:15
◒
Closing

Close – Official Launch of ST&I Business Forum

Chairperson of ST&I Business Forum, Mr Tilson Mphathi Manyoni
Series Launch — 2026 Inaugural Edition
Igniting a national ST&I lecture series for the future of innovation.

The 2026 ST&I Inaugural Public Lecture launches what will become an ongoing national platform for dialogue. Future editions are already planned to carry the conversation across South Africa's ecosystems of innovation, higher education, business, and public policy.

Series launch 2026 inaugural edition
Next destinations Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay
2027
Next chapter

Cape Town

The second edition in the lecture series will bring the ST&I conversation into the Western Cape's vibrant innovation ecosystem.

2028
Future edition

Nelson Mandela Bay

A forthcoming edition designed to extend the platform's national reach, deepening engagement across academia, industry, entrepreneurship, and public policy in the Eastern Cape.

Event Attendance

Registration for the public lecture is now closed.

Thank you for the strong interest in the 2026 ST&I Public Lecture at Emperors Palace Convention Centre. Attendance details are now being finalised with confirmed delegates.

Delegate Access 8 July 2026
Attendance Status Closed

New registrations are no longer being accepted. Confirmed attendees will receive event participation details through the official coordination channels.

Enquiry
Registration Closed.
Direct Your Enquiry.

Registration for the Inaugural ST&I Public Lecture is now closed. Use this section for existing delegate support, partnership, media, speaker, or general event enquiries and the ST&I Business Forum team will respond directly.

Existing Delegate Support

Support for already confirmed attendees and event participation queries
Reviewed

Partnership Enquiries

Sponsorship, collaboration, and institutional alignment
Priority

Media Enquiries

Accreditation, interviews, and press resources
Press Desk

Speaker & Protocol

Speaker confirmations, protocol, and hosted guests
By Coordination
Registration Status: New registrations are no longer being accepted. Submitted enquiries help us route confirmed delegate support, partnership, media, speaker, and general event queries to the correct coordination stream.
Send an Enquiry

All enquiries are reviewed by the ST&I Business Forum team and delivered to info@stibusinessforum.co.za in a structured format for prompt follow-up.

Professional Routing

Your submission will include your contact details, enquiry category, preferred response route, and full message so the team can review it without missing context.

Contact Information
This is the address the ST&I Business Forum team will use when responding to your enquiry.
Enquiry Details
Clear details help the email arrive ready for review and response.
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Thank you for your enquiry.

We will respond within 48 hours.
Check your inbox for a message from info@stibusinessforum.co.za

Media & Thought Leadership
Insights Before,
Policy After.
Pre-Event · Mail & Guardian

ST&I Supplement: The Innovation Imperative

A dedicated Mail & Guardian editorial supplement featuring expert opinion, sponsor profiles, and policy analysis — reaching over 250,000 engaged readers.

Request Coverage Details →
Thought Leadership

Opinion & Analysis on South Africa's ST&I Agenda

Curated opinion pieces, expert commentary, and original research on PPP university models, innovation policy, dual-education systems, and industrial development.

Browse Articles →
Press Resources

Press Releases & Media Accreditation

Official press releases, high-resolution event assets, speaker bios, and media accreditation for journalists. Contact us for press access and exclusive briefings.

Media Enquiries →
Post-Event · Video Archive

Keynote Recordings & Speaker Interviews

Full keynote recordings, panel discussions, and speaker interview videos published within 7 days of the event. Submit an enquiry to receive direct access updates.

Enquire for Access →
Post-Event · Publication

2026 Keynote Proceedings Report

Official published proceedings of the Inaugural Lecture — keynote transcripts, panel synthesis, policy recommendations, and the Commitments Register.

Enquire for Access →
Post-Event · Policy Impact

ST&I Policy Brief — Submitted to DSTI

A formal policy brief distilling the 2026 Lecture's key findings and recommendations, submitted directly to the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

Enquire for Updates →
Strategic Media Partner
South Africa's leading independent journal of record
Conference room venue
Event Venue
Emperors Palace Convention Centre

The 2026 Inaugural ST&I Public Lecture will be hosted at Emperors Palace Convention Centre, a preferred conference destination in Ekurhuleni with flexible halls, professional AV support, and modern event infrastructure designed for high-impact gatherings.