The Eastern Cape came alive with energy, ideas, and ambition as the 2025 Eastern Cape Innovation & Entrepreneurship Week (IEW) unfolded at the East London Industrial Development Zone Science & Technology Park (ELIDZ STP). From 24 to 28 November 2025, students, innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the entire province converged to showcase their ingenuity, engage with industry leaders, and take part in an ecosystem designed to transform ideas into tangible solutions. The week was truly province-wide, drawing participants from East London, Queenstown, Engcobo, Makhanda, Gqeberha, Mthatha, and beyond, demonstrating the depth and breadth of talent across the Eastern Cape.
For five days, the STP became more than a venue, it was a living hub for innovation, where collaboration, mentorship, and practical problem-solving took centre stage. The week marked the culmination of two provincial initiatives: the Eastern Cape Innovation Challenge, which encouraged participants to propose transformative solutions across five eastern cape priority sectors, and the 48-Hour Eastern Cape Hackathon Challenge, a fast-paced competition where teams developed practical digital prototypes addressing youth, SMME, and industrial challenges. Both competitions reflected the province’s commitment to tackling real-world problems while creating pathways to employment and enterprise development.
The week officially began with an inspiring keynote from DEDEAT MEC Ms Nonkqubela Pieters, who called for innovation to become a daily habit, not an occasional event.
“Innovation must become a daily practice in this province — not an occasional event. It is the pathway through which we will diversify our economy, empower young people, and build industries that can compete globally. What we are witnessing here today is not just an exhibition of ideas, but a demonstration of what is possible when the public sector, academia, industry, and innovators work together.”
She highlighted the role of ELIDZ-STP as a catalyst for growth:
“The Eastern Cape is rich with talent, creativity, and ambition. Our responsibility as government is to ensure that this potential is supported, protected, and given the right opportunities to grow. The ELIDZ-STP is a catalytic environment designed to do exactly that — nurture ideas, accelerate innovation, and translate concepts into commercially viable solutions.”
Her message resonated throughout the week, inspiring participants to think big and embrace collaboration as a tool for systemic change.
The competitions were designed with a clear focus, to address the Eastern Cape’s most pressing socio-economic and industrial challenges. With unemployment at 41%, youth is disproportionately affected, the need for innovative solutions that generate jobs and opportunities has never been greater.
The Innovation Challenge encouraged participants to develop solutions tackling barriers such as youth unemployment, food insecurity, unequal access to healthcare and education, slow industrial modernisation, and limited commercialisation of research. Participants were invited to submit proposals across five strategic sectors:
- Agri-business and Aquaculture,
- Automotive and Mobility,
- Digital Economy,
- Sustainable Energy,
- And Advanced Manufacturing.
The goal was simple but ambitious to create practical, scalable solutions capable of transforming the province’s industries and improving social outcomes.
Meanwhile, the 48-Hour Hackathon focused on bridging critical digital gaps. Teams worked excitedly to produce functioning prototypes that could immediately address challenges such as fragmented youth information systems, limited SMME support tools, and inaccessible industrial data. The Hackathon featured four themes:
- ELIDZ Skills Portal,
- ELIDZ-STP Interactive App,
- An AI-Powered SMME Funding System, and
- the Eastern Cape Youth Information Portal—a digital hub centralizing opportunities for young people.
Among the many remarkable moments of the week, one story stood out. Chuma Memela, team leader of Innovator 24, led his team to victory in Theme Four of the Hackathon, the Eastern Cape Youth Information Portal.
“First hackathon and first win! Today marks a big achievement for our team,” Memela said.
“We were one of the four winning teams, competing against more than 30 teams and over 200 participants across East London, Bisho, Mthatha and beyond. We took first place in the theme focused on designing a youth portal that centralises opportunities for young people. Our team walked away with R100,000, and the IDZ has pledged a further R240,000 towards developing the solution in the coming year. The final product will be handed over to the IDZ to fully own and roll out for public use. For a first hackathon experience, this was powerful. I am grateful to my team, the mentors, and the organisers who created a space where ideas could grow. We are excited for what comes next.”
The Youth Information Portal promises to streamline access to bursaries, learnerships, skills programmes, and career opportunities, providing young people across the province with the tools and information they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.
ELIDZ CEO, Mr. Thembela Zweni, reflected on the broader significance of the week:
“At ELIDZ, innovation is not just a buzzword — it is the engine of inclusive growth and sustainable development. Our mission is to cultivate forward-looking thinkers, makers, and problem-solvers who will shape the future of our province. The Eastern Cape has the talent, creativity, and ambition to compete on a global scale, and initiatives like IEW 2025 demonstrate our commitment to unlocking this potential.”
Ms. Ludwe Macingwane, Head of the ELIDZ-STP and Africa Division President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP), placed the week in an international context:
“The Eastern Cape is now visible on the global innovation map. By connecting local innovators with international best practices, mentorship, and networks, we are equipping our youth and entrepreneurs to compete globally. This week has showcased solutions that are not only relevant locally but also have the potential to scale and attract investment beyond South Africa’s borders.”
The international dimension was reinforced through collaborations with TusHoldings (China) and Technopark Ankara (Turkey), bringing global expertise, mentorship, and opportunities for cross-border technology partnerships. These relationships illustrate how local solutions are being connected to international innovation trends, positioning the Eastern Cape as an active player in the global economy.
The STP is more than infrastructure, it is a living platform for skill-building, incubation, and enterprise development, running continuous programmes in digital literacy, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, green technologies, and entrepreneurship. These initiatives ensure that innovation in the Eastern Cape is not a single event but an ongoing movement, equipping youth and entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
The final day of IEW 2025 showcased the province’s brightest innovators, as teams pitched practical solutions with the potential to scale into fully-fledged enterprises. With over R1.5 million in innovation support, finalists received prototype development assistance, 12-month incubation placements, mentorship, and market access facilitation.
“Today, we witnessed courage, creativity, and brilliance,” said Ms Ludwe Macingwane, Head of ELIDZ-STP and Africa Division Chair of the International Association of Science Parks. “Our innovators have proven that the Eastern Cape is ready to lead with ideas, talent, and transformative capability.”
From digital platforms to advanced manufacturing solutions, the week demonstrated the province’s ability to harness talent for social and economic transformation.
Selecting winners was no easy task. The creativity and ingenuity displayed by the youth of the Eastern Cape was overwhelming, making the adjudication process both exciting and challenging. Each solution was evaluated not just for its technical merit, but for its impact, feasibility, and potential to scale, ensuring that the winning ideas can deliver real, lasting change.
As the week closes, the way forward is clear. ELIDZ-STP will continue to nurture these innovations, supporting teams through incubation, mentorship, and skills development programmes designed to transform ideas into commercially viable solutions that address unemployment, stimulate economic growth, and empower youth. The solutions presented are just the beginning of a broader strategy to harness the creativity of the Eastern Cape’s young people and translate it into measurable social and economic impact.
A heartfelt thanks goes to all the youth of the Eastern Cape for taking the opportunity, embracing the challenge, and demonstrating their incredible talent and ingenuity. Your ideas are shaping the province’s future.
IEW 2025 was made possible by the collective effort of stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and development agencies. UNDP, TIA, ECDC, Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University, University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University, UNISA, TVET Colleges, and private sector partners all contributed mentorship, funding, infrastructure, and technical expertise. Their support provided innovators with the guidance, tools, and platforms necessary to transform ideas into solutions capable of creating jobs, empowering youth, and accelerating economic growth.
The momentum of IEW 2025 is far from over. ELIDZ-STP will continue to incubate, mentor, and support winning teams, ensuring their solutions progress from prototypes to market-ready enterprises.
Plans are already underway to expand the Innovation Challenge and Hackathon to reach even more participants next year, while strengthening links with international partners such as TusHoldings (China) and Technopark Ankara (Turkey) to provide global mentorship, investment opportunities, and cross-border collaboration.
IEW 2025 is just the beginning — a springboard for lasting economic growth, youth empowerment, and a thriving culture of innovation across the Eastern Cape. As this ecosystem matures, the province will continue to turn ideas into enterprises, talent into impact, and creativity into opportunity.
Media Enquiries:
Siphosethu Tikana (CPRP)
Acting Manager: Marketing & Corporate Communications
Tel: +27 64 900 8392
Email: siphosethuti@elidz.co.za
Issued by:
East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ), an entity of the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT)