CPUT, through its Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC), recently celebrated the official launch of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with African Bank.

The ceremony, hosted at the District Six Campus, aligned closely with CPUT’s Vision 2030 of building One Smart CPUT and the university’s MIT of Africa strategy, which positions CPUT as Africa’s leading technology-driven institution advancing innovation at scale.

Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, emphasised the strategic significance of the partnership in strengthening student development, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation. Michael Twum-Darko, Head of BiiC, said the African Bank leadership reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering communities, youth, small and medium enterprises (SME's), and innovators - echoing its own Pitch Cred mandate, which positions African Bank as a champion of inclusive growth, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

A joint presentation by CPUT and African Bank teams showcased the roadmap for collaboration, including immediate and long-term initiatives across student innovation, financial literacy, youth and women empowerment, and solutions that advance the financial sector.

“At the heart of the partnership is BiiC, which is strategically positioned as African Bank’s innovation partner - leveraging CPUT’s applied research, student talent, multidisciplinary expertise, and incubation capacity. Through BiiC, CPUT will co-develop digital solutions, AI-enabled learning and reskilling systems, and community-centred financial inclusion innovations that respond directly to African Bank’s national priorities,” noted Twum-Darko.

He stated that before the end of the academic year, CPUT and African Bank will convene a high-level workshop with relevant stakeholders to design and prioritise three transformative flagship projects:

• Youth development and financial literacy programmes that prepare young people for economic participation.
• Young women empowerment and graduate internship pathways that strengthen employability and leadership.
• Student innovation and market-access partnerships enabling CPUT-developed solutions to reach industry, communities, and markets - creating shared commercial value for CPUT/BiiC and African Bank.

The partnership is expected to deliver meaningful impact through mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, access to professionals, technology development support, and financial inclusion projects designed to uplift underserved communities. Twum-Darko said the collaboration also positions African Bank as a progressive industry partner investing in future-focused skills development and innovation-driven social transformation.

“As CPUT continues its pathway to becoming the MIT of Africa, this MoU embodies a powerful alignment between academia, industry, and society - showcasing how collaborative innovation can unlock new opportunities for South Africa’s youth and economy.”

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Head of the Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BIIC), Prof Michael Twum-Darko, was the guest of the British Council at the Commercialisation and Entrepreneurial Institutions Leaders’ (CEIL) Summit 2022 in Mombasa, Kenya.

The intensive two-day summit brought together entrepreneurial driven universities in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Tanzania as well as leading Kenyan government, international organisations and institutions involved in commercialisation of universities’ research, incubation centres and venture capitalists interested in funding innovative projects from universities in Africa.

Twum-Darko showcased the BIIC’s British Council sponsored “Inclusive Industry-linked Technopreneurship Development Infrastructure for graduate employability as a sustainable model to create the culture of research commercialisation-based industry-linked partnership to turn CPUT campus to an engine room for disruptive start-ups”.

“The model which was well received by delegates has attracted interest for collaboration and partnership. The showcase included students’ projects being worked at the Centre by the students and the technology companies as partners to improve on the concepts and designs of the students to create spin-off enterprises,” said Twum-Darko.

He is working with the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to create a legal framework that will allow technology companies to partner with the Centre and collaborate with students and researchers to use technology to address many of the social projects. “Ongoing projects with students and a technology company are in the area of automated off-the-shelf drug dispensing machine, automated court maintenance procedures, internet of needs, Grocify to improve food security, cryptocurrency to offer affordable loans to the needy, personal health tracking system and eVillage for the acceleration of township economy.”

Written by CPUT News

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.