An unstable energy grid, climate-stressed farms, rising waste, and inefficient transport
systems are weighing down South Africa’s growth prospects. However, local innovators see
these same provincial pressures as an opportunity to unlock potential.
This golden thread wove itself through this year’s Global Cleantech Innovation Programme
South Africa (GCIP-SA) National Awards Ceremony. Appropriately held in South African
Innovation Week, these awards mark the end of the 2025/26 GCIP-SA accelerator
programme run by the Technology Innovation Agency.
The GCIP-SA programme takes early-stage ideas and pushes them closer to market. This
year, 38 startups completed, producing ten finalists:
Dakar Consulting (Northern Cape) – Solar-powered desalination and off-grid
electricity system
Gemanlee (Gauteng) – High-purity graphite recovery from electric vehicle batteries
Kasi Gas (Gentle Ginger Holdings) (Mpumalanga) – Biogas and biofertiliser from
organic waste
Godisang Spaces (Gauteng) – CircularBuild digital platform for construction waste
reuse
Mosebe Enterprise (Western Cape) – Tsepo V3 off-grid energy system for low-
income communities
NutriXect (Mpumalanga) – Insect-based poultry feed using organic waste
Phoka M Holdings (Mpumalanga) – Chemical-free water treatment for industrial and
mining use
The Itsile Group (Gauteng) – Smart logistics platform to track and reduce carbon
emissions
The Makers Club (KwaZulu-Natal) – Smart farming system for irrigation and soil
optimisation
Vonnie Projects (Limpopo) – Biomass-based animal feed and energy briquettes
Vusi Skosana, Executive for Innovation and Enabling Support at the Technology Innovation
Agency believes South Africa’s transition to a more resilient, lower-carbon economy cannot
be solved by policy alone.
“This is not about ideas that sit stuck on a shelf,” said Skosana. “It’s about solutions that can
be implemented, that can create jobs, and that can respond to real challenges in the
economy.”
He said the ten finalists reflect just how close some of those solutions already are.
In the Northern Cape, Dakar Consulting developed a solar-powered system to produce clean
drinking water AND off-grid electricity. This is a potential life saver for communities facing
water and power unreliability.
In Mpumalanga, Kasi Gas turns organic waste into biogas and fertiliserto address the cost of
energy and agricultural inputs at the same time.
Gauteng-based Gemanlee is tackling a different kind of waste problem by recovering high-
value graphite from used electric vehicle batteries. Skosana said this was a formidable step
towards building a local circular economy with clean technologies.
“We’re so proud to see our cleantech sector go from ambition to fruition,” said Skosana.
“We’re seeing businesses big and small tackling real, immediate problems.”
Since 2014, GCIP-SA has supported more than 265 innovators, with many moving into
advanced acceleration and commercialisation stages. Through initiatives like the Climate
Impact Fund, over R150 million has been mobilised to help these ventures grow.
The programme is also quietly reshaping participation in innovation. The latest cohort was
made up of 60% youth, 35.2% women and 85% hailed from previously disadvantaged
groups. Skosana said this reflects how cleantech in South Africa is booming beyond the
more exclusive, and inaccessible tech hubs of the past.
GCIP-SA forms part of a global initiative led by the United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation and supported by the Global Environment Facility. This coalition comes
together to accelerate clean technology solutions in emerging markets. But its success in
South Africa will ultimately be measured locally, noted Skosana.
“The challenge is to take these ideas and see how we can accelerate them at the speed of
need. While innovation is needed, can it be translated into a business of scale to solve
provincial and national problems? I have no doubt,” concluded Skosana.
Reflecting on a Powerful Week of Innovation and Impact!
Last week, the GCIP South Africa 2025 Business Clinics brought together 40 exceptional cleantech semi-finalists for an intensive week of learning, mentorship, and strategy turning ideas into investable, scalable green businesses.
Under the guidance of industry experts and mentors, participants refined their approaches in key areas like financing, product development, intellectual property, marketing, and sustainability taking their solutions from vision to viable ventures.
As Vusi shared in his opening remarks:
“Your work is not just about a pitch or a competition; it’s about creating viable businesses that tackle profound national and global challenges.”
A huge thank you to all the innovators, mentors, and partners who made this week a success, your passion and commitment are shaping the future of South Africa’s green economy.
#GCIPSA2025#Cleantech#GreenInnovation#YouthInBusiness#Sustainability#Entrepreneurship#TIA#CleanEnergy#WasteBeneficiation#InnovationForImpact
The GCIP South Africa Gala 2025, hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in partnership with UNIDO, marked the culmination of another successful year of empowering South African innovators advancing the green economy.
Held under the theme “Innovating for Impact: Building a Sustainable Future,” the gala celebrated entrepreneurs and startups using science, technology, and creativity to address pressing environmental challenges while creating jobs and inclusive economic growth.
South Africa showcased solutions in renewable energy, waste management, water efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and green manufacturing. Their work reflects a growing national commitment to innovation that drives sustainability and competitiveness.
Awards were presented to innovators demonstrating outstanding environmental, social, and economic impact, including:
Keynote speakers from the Department of Science and Innovation, TIA, and UNIDO reaffirmed their dedication to supporting South Africa’s clean technology ecosystem. The gala emphasized that green innovation is not just about technology—it’s about people, partnerships, and shared purpose.
The event concluded with a renewed call to scale up support for entrepreneurs who are turning sustainable ideas into viable businesses, helping position South Africa as a continental leader in cleantech innovation.
As we stand at the crossroads of climate change and economic opportunity, I believe Africa’s greatest potential lies in its ability to innovate for sustainability. Across the continent, visionary entrepreneurs are transforming challenges from energy access to waste management, into thriving businesses that drive inclusive growth.
Through the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP South Africa), we are supporting the next generation of innovators building solutions that protect our planet while powering our economy.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing weekly insights and reflections on GreenTech, ClimateTech, and CleanTech, exploring how African entrepreneurs are leading the charge toward a cleaner, smarter, and more equitable future.
Together, let’s celebrate the thinkers, builders, and dreamers redefining what’s possible. Switch On with Me and Global Cleantech Innovation Programme GCIP-SA
