We are pleased to announce that SMRT.BIO has nominated three outstanding students for the ISSIP Student Innovation Award 2026: Joia Mcunu, Michelle Tshabalala, and Sibongile Lukele. The nominations reflect their exceptional entrepreneurial mindset, innovation capacity, and commitment to creating real-world impact.

The final winner will be announced on 19 February 2026 by Jim Spohrer, on behalf of ISSIP. Jim Spohrer is a former executive at Apple and IBM and currently serves as a Board Member of ISSIP. He is widely recognised as a global thought leader in service innovation and digital transformation.

The award ceremony takes place at the  Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, which is rapidly positioning itself as the most entrepreneurial university in South Africa. The event underscores CUT’s ambition to translate student talent into scalable ventures, jobs, and regional economic growth. Professor Samson Mashele, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, will welcome all participants during the event.

The programme will also include representation from the Chamber of Commerce of the Free State, highlighting strong ties between academia, industry, and regional development. In addition, a short presentation will be given on SoftwareTalents.com, a new company founded last year by a group of ten CUT students, demonstrating how student-driven innovation can lead directly to new enterprises with global reach!

ISSIP invites organisations and individuals—whether scaling innovation in business or driving transformation in education—to join its mission-driven global network redefining service in the digital age.

SMRT.BIO is a platform that drives growth for individuals, businesses, and regions by connecting talent, education, and opportunity. Our AI-driven insights unlock smarter pathways to success. Be epic.

For more information, please contact Frank Melis, CEO of SMRT.BIO: frank@smrt.bio or Fred Matongo of CUT: FMatongo@cut.ac.za