The Innovation Hub Management Company (TIHMC), as a Science and Technology Park, is an innovation agency tasked with spearheading innovation initiatives within the Gauteng City Region. TIHMC plays a pivotal role in both conceptualising and implementing innovative programmes in high-growth sectors aligned to the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030) initiative, including the digital economy, bio-economy and green economy.
At the core of TIHMC’s mandate is fostering entrepreneurship, incubating new ventures and catalysing economic transformation. TIHMC’s focus extends to creating new business opportunities, nurturing entrepreneurial talent and sourcing relevant innovations to modernise the economy. By providing attractive spaces for emerging knowledge companies and facilitating human capacity development aligned with industry needs, TIHMC ensures a dynamic ecosystem where businesses can thrive.
This is achieved by fostering collaboration between industry, government, and academic and research institutions, reinforcing the constructive collaboration necessary for the development of innovative solutions.
The Innovation Hub is in the City of Tshwane on the edge of the campus of the University of Pretoria but the unit’s work covers the entire province.
TIH’s enterprise development initiatives focus on reducing the distance and time to market to ensure establishment of sustainable and high-growth startups that support the competitiveness and modernisation of the Gauteng economy and creation of decent jobs. Based on the solid foundation established to date, TIHMC proactively supports entrepreneurs with innovations that address the social and environmental challenges faced by Gauteng as well as those that enhance competitiveness of local industries.
IHMC proactively supports entrepreneurs with innovations that address the social and environmental challenges faced by Gauteng as well as those that enhance competitiveness of local industries.
Working collaboratively with industry, government, civil society, academic and research institutions, emphasis is placed on identifying and supporting relevant and near-market R&D and innovation projects targeted at local economic and social challenges and service delivery in line with government priorities.
TIHMC encompass a range of sub-programmes aimed at achieving the above. These initiatives serve as incubators for emerging ventures, providing vital business development support and fostering innovation:
Maxum Business Incubator: Maxum provides business-development support to startups in the smart industries: ICT (eg Internet of Things, cyber-security, big data and analytics, artificial intelligence) and advanced manufacturing/industry 4.0 (eg industrial IoT, additive manufacturing, foundry 4.0).
Climate Innovation Centre Incubator: The programme provides support to startups in the South African green economy. Through targeted business-development support, this initiative facilitates the growth of enterprises committed to addressing environmental challenges and driving sustainable innovation.
BioPark Incubator: The BioPark Incubator provides business development support to startups in the health (biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, indigenous knowledge-based cosmeceuticals, cosmetics), agriculture (agro/food processing, bioprocessing, smart agriculture) and industrial biotechnology sectors.
eKasiLabs Incubator: The eKasiLabs programme is an extension of The Innovation Hub’s service offering. Its micro-innovation hub facilities spread across the five economic corridors in Gauteng where a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in townships is fostered and cultivated. The facilities are in Mohlakeng, Sebokeng, Garankuwa, Soweto, Tembisa, Alexandra, Mamelodi, Kagiso, Kathorus and Mabopane, Tsakane, Diepsloot and Danie Van Zyl.
Highlights in FY 2023/24
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- 12 Open Innovation projects contracted
- 67 Intellectual Property (IP) applications filed
- 10 innovation products developed from the Product Development Lab
- 64 product-ready innovations taken to the market by incubated companies
- 12 product-ready innovations exported by incubated companies
- 9 companies graduating from incubation
- 389 jobs created through incubated companies
Incubation success
TIHMC’s incubated companies successfully exported their innovations to various countries, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the UK and other countries in the course of 2023/24.
The total export value of these innovations exceeded R294-million.
Product Development Lab
The overall objective of the Product Development Lab (PDL) is to provide product development as a service to innovators, where solutions will be developed from proof of concept to fully functioning products and services. The PDL is located at the TIHMC Park Precinct and tests reliability, readiness and security of solutions before they go into production. It is envisaged that the establishment of this PDL infrastructure will:
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- Stimulate the pipeline for incubation programmes and enhance commercialisation
- Accelerate technological development
- Build innovation capacity by equipping individuals with the requisite skill sets to build innovative solutions
- Lead towards technology advancement
- Improve local production
Innovation programmes
There are two main innovation programmes:
The GAP (Gauteng Accelerator Programme) Innovation Competition is offered in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Emory University Business School (Atlanta Georgia) and Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) and is looking for innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs who are working on novel technologies. GAP winners share in seed funding and cash prizes, as well as receive incubation services and access to networks.
OpenIX is an Open Innovation Exchange that delivers tangible solutions to real challenges posted by solution seekers and connects leading African researchers and entrepreneurs with new opportunities to commercialise their innovations. OpenIX is partnered with the City of Tshwane and the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS).
Skills Development
CoachLab® is a youth skills development programme while Schools Programme FabLab focusses on schools.
Conference venue and office facilities
The Innovation Hub has conference and office facilities for hire.
Contact details
- The Innovation Centre, Mark Shuttleworth Street, The Innovation Hub, Tshwane
- Tel: +27 12 844 0000
- Email: info@theinnovationhub.com
- Website: www.theinnovationhub.com
