From left: Professor Samson Mashele, DVC: RIE, Ms. Sibongile Lukhele, CUT student and founder of Urban Harvest Bloem, Ms. Joia Mcunu, CUT student and founder of JRM CC and Ms. Nancy De Sousa, President of the Mangaung Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), in partnership with SMRT.BIO, put Mangaung on the global innovation map by hosting the International Society for Service Innovation Professionals (ISSIP) Student Innovation Award 2026.

Presented by Professor Samson Mashele, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, alongside ISSIP Board Member and former Apple and IBM executive Jim Spohrer, the message resonated clearly: innovation may be global, but it starts local.

Prof. Mashele reinforced CUT’s bold vision stating that universities must move beyond degrees to drive enterprise creation, job generation, and regional economic renewal. This ambition is powered by CUT’s Talent Implementation Model Entrepreneurs (TIME) initiative, delivered with SMRT.BIO, which is turning student ideas into scalable ventures.

The event formed part of CUT’s Talent Implementation Model Entrepreneurs (TIME) initiative implemented in partnership with SMRT.BIO, a structured push to move students from theory to traction. In its first year, the TIME initiative achieved measurable momentum. Approximately 4,000 CUT students engaged with AI-enabled employability tools, 270 structured Business Model Canvases were developed within nine months, regional industry partnerships were strengthened, and a graduate-led AI software company emerged, now employing 12 CUT graduates.

Mr Frank Melis, CEO of SMRT.BIO, highlighted how implementing an AI-driven entrepreneurship platform at scale is already producing tangible results, with two student ventures successfully launched.

Ms Nancy de Sousa, President of the Mangaung Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged students to step forward boldly, reminding them that regional economic renewal depends on young leaders who are willing to build.

Two student ventures that gained international recognition are Joia Mcunu’s JRM CC and Sibongile Lukhele’s Urban Harvest Bloem.

Ms. Joia Mcunu presenting her JRM CC initiative at the ISSIP Student Innovation Awards 2026.

Joia Mcunu’s JRM CC initiative introduced an innovative factory gas capture and separation system that reduces industrial emissions while converting recovered gases into commercially viable products. Its sustainability engineered for impact where environmental responsibility aligns seamlessly with industrial precision, strengthening both ecological stewardship and long-term profitability.

Ms. Sibongile Lukhele introducing her Urban Harvest Bloem, fresh produce and future-focused farming initiative, envisioned to strengthen sustainable urban development in Bloemfontein and beyond.

Sibongile Lukhele’s Urban Harvest Bloem, a hydroponic and vertical agriculture venture reimagining urban food security in Bloemfontein is envisioned to strengthen sustainable urban development in Bloemfontein and beyond, reimagining how cities grow food in a changing climate. Fresh produce. Future-focused farming.

Adding powerful proof of impact, Tlhokomelo Direko co-founder of the graduate-led AI software company, shared how his three-person student startup scaled to a 12-employee AI company in just nine months, demonstrating what happens when ecosystems actively back young innovators.

Front row from left:  Ms. Nancy De Sousa, Ms. Sibongile Lukhele and Ms. Joia Mcunu. Back row from left: Mr. Tlhokomelo Direko, co-founder of SoftwareTalents, Mr. Fredrick Matongo, Director: Innovation and Technology Transfer, Professor Samson Mashele and Mr. Kutwane Kareli, Business Development Officer.

In closing, Jim Spohrer reflected on the impressive quality of innovations and business plans presented. He encouraged students to cultivate strong local roots and international collaborations. “This was more than an awards ceremony; it was a statement! I am impressed that CUT students are not waiting for opportunities, they are building enterprises, they are creating jobs and they are shaping the future of Mangaung and beyond,” he stated.