SA Govt Launches R1 Million Tech Challenge

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation's (DSTI) Innovation Bridge Portal, in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the inaugural South African Tech Challenge, offering a grand prize of R1 million to the most innovative startups in the digital technology space.

The DSTI says the challenge seeks to showcase local talent at a global stage, support innovation, and strengthen the country's representation in the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) and Startup20 working groups.

Winners of each category will also receive an opportunity to represent South Africa at the G20 DIA Summit to be held in Cape Town from 24 to 26 September 2025. In addition to the category winners, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) will host the top five winners of each category at the summit, where they will showcase their solutions to global investors, mentors and leaders.

“This initiative, aligned with the 2022–2032 Decadal Plan, is part of DSTI’s broader strategy to foster an environment where innovation thrives, the development of homegrown technologies is accelerated, and local innovators are empowered to scale their impact on a national and global stage,” says the DSTI in a statement. 

The competition will be managed by Wits University's Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, and brings together key government departments, agencies and academic institutions including, the Technology Innovation Agency, the Department of Small Business Development, the DCDT, and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

Eligible applicants must be operational for at least one year, with revenues not exceeding R250 million per annum, and operate in one of the following sectors:

• Digital platforms
• Fintech
• Secured digital infrastructure
• Circular economy
• Innovations for connectivity
• Innovations for development (including agritech, healthtech, and edtech)

Applications are now open and will close on 30 June 2025. Finalists and winners will be announced on 31 July 2025. For more information or to apply, visit the Innovation Bridge Portal