2027 / A national conversation
ST&I
Public Lecture 2027
Building an Innovation Economy for South Africa
A national convening where public leadership, frontier research, technology, capital and industry commitments meet to shape South Africa's innovation economy.
⌬Research commercialisation
◉Technology transfer
⌁Innovation finance
◎Public-private delivery
♧Talent pipelines
✥Industrial scale-up
About the lecture
The next chapter
starts with a lectureand continues
in dialogue.
South Africa’s flagship platform at the intersection of science, technology, innovation policy, higher education and business leadership.
Anchored in the 2019 ST&I White Paper and the ST&I Decadal Plan, each city’s lecture contributes to a national conversation on building an innovation economy for South Africa.
Independent convening, evidence-based dialogue and curated, invitation-led attendance across both legs.
2027 national series
One national question. Two cities. One innovation agenda.
The 2027 programme begins in Ekurhuleni with a defining public lecture, then moves to Cape Town for a public dialogue that tests, expands and carries its ideas forward.
Public Lecture
ST&I Dialogue
ST&I Public Lecture
Ekurhuleni
A headline lecture to set the national signal for building South Africa's innovation economy.
Register interest
ST&I Dialogue
Cape Town
A moderated panel conversation responding to the lecture and its practical implications.
Register interestSponsorship packages
Partner with
ST&I
Three sponsorship tiers are structured around meaningful participation, visible thought leadership and lasting institutional recognition across the 2027 programme.
Platinum Partner
Premier strategic partnership with the broadest event visibility and participation footprint.
- Speaking opportunity at the event
- Hosting engagement with keynote speakers
- Full Mail & Guardian interview and feature article
- Premium logo placement on all event material and collateral
- On-site promotional opportunities
- Social media mentions and digital profile
- Website recognition
- Inclusion in press releases
- Active contribution to ST&I Business Forum's core programmes and activities
Gold Partner
High-visibility partnership with keynote engagement and multi-channel promotion.
- Mail & Guardian interview and feature article
- Speaking opportunity at the event
- Interactive engagement with keynote speakers
- Branded material and collateral
- Logo placement across all event material
- On-site promotional opportunities
- Social media mentions and digital profile
- Website recognition
- Inclusion in press releases
Silver Partner
Institutional visibility across the event platform and communications rollout.
- Logo placement across all event material
- On-site promotional opportunities
- Social media mentions
- Website recognition
- Inclusion in press releases
Speakers
Four voices. Both cities.
Illustrative speaker profiles — names, titles and organisations are subject to confirmation for each city.
Presidential / Ministerial
Mr Hlompo Gumede
Presidency of South Africa or the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation
Global academic
Dr Kenneth Molambo
International leader in university–industry innovation and dual-education models
Subject matter expert
Mr Katlego Phala
South African expertise in science, technology and innovation policy
Industry voice
Mrs Siyanda Khumalo
Private-sector leadership in technology, manufacturing and innovation
Moderator
Ayesha Daniels
Guiding a focused public dialogue across science, technology and inclusive innovation.
Research
Prof. Sipho Ndlovu
Research partnerships, knowledge transfer and institutional collaboration.
Innovation finance
Mia Jacobs
Funding innovation, scaling enterprises and unlocking commercial impact.
Skills & industry
Kagiso Molefe
Future skills, technology adoption and pathways into meaningful work.
Programme
An evening
of
substance.
Explore the public lecture in Ekurhuleni and the dialogue in Cape Town. Select a city to see its proposed programme.
Draft programme · timings, dates and venues are subject to confirmation.
Request the run-sheetArrival & networking
Welcome drinks · sponsor exhibition open
Official opening
Welcome by the ST&I Business Forum
Keynote: National STI strategy
Presidential / ministerial perspective
Keynote: Global university PPP models
Global academic perspective
Panel: Government, academia & industry
Speaker responses and audience Q&A
Keynote: STI policy levers
Science, technology and innovation policy
Industry’s investment case
Private-sector perspective
Closing & networking
Reflections and next steps
Arrival & networking
Welcome drinks and delegate connections
Official opening
Welcome and context for the Cape Town dialogue
The lecture in focus
Revisiting the national innovation proposition
Panel: Research, finance & industry
Testing the ideas through a moderated discussion
Audience dialogue
Questions, responses and shared perspectives
From dialogue to action
Partnership opportunities and practical commitments
Closing & networking
Reflections and next steps
Register to attend
Your place in the 2027 conversation starts here.
Register your interest for the Ekurhuleni Public Lecture, the Cape Town ST&I Dialogue, or both. We will share confirmed dates, venues and attendance details directly with you.
