Inaugural SA Innovation Week 2026

Inaugural SA Innovation Week 2026 (SAIW’26)

SA Innovation Week 2026 (SAIW’26) is South Africa’s inaugural National Innovation Week, created to unify capital, talent, industry demand, and public-sector priorities into a single, coordinated national platform.

Responding to a historically fragmented innovation landscape, SAIW’26 convenes the innovation ecosystem to strengthen competitiveness, accelerate commercialisation, broaden participation, and drive measurable national impact.

The 2026 edition marks the launch of this long-term national initiative and culminates in a high-energy, festival-style event featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, live podcast recordings, workshops, exhibitions, and interactive activations focused on the quadruple helix of innovation.

Event Details

Dates and time: Wednesday, 18 March and Thursday, 19 March, from 8h30 to 17h00, and a special half-day for founders masterclasses on Friday, 20 March from 8h30 to 13h00.

Venue: NASREC

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Format: Festival-style innovation event

Food: A wide variety of food trucks will be available on site (no formal catering provided)