Wits University has officially been named the top-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa for innovation performance in the 2025 Global Innovation Index. This prestige is bolstered by individual faculty achievements:
- Dr. Precious Matsoso: Named to Nature’s 10, the list of people who shaped science in 2025.
- Prof. Benjamin Rosman: Recognized in the “Thinkers” category of the TIME100 AI 2025 list.
Pioneering the Future: AI, Quantum, and Cyber
As the International Year of Quantum concludes, Wits remains at the forefront of the “Deep Tech” revolution:
- Quantum Advancements: The launch of the Chair in Photonics (held by Dr. Angela Dudley) is set to unlock new frontiers in future technologies.
- The MIND Institute: Led by Prof. Rosman, the Institute secured a US$1M Google.org award and a R33M IBM partnership.
- AI & Creativity: A unique “AI & African Music” pilot project is exploring the intersection of generative technology and the music industry.
- Cybersecurity: Launching two new postgraduate degrees in 2026 to combat evolving digital threats.
Saving the Planet & Advancing Health
Wits researchers are addressing the world’s most urgent crises through data and infrastructure:
- Climate Action: Following COP30, Wits launched the African Data Drive and the Wits Climate Risk Modelling Project (funded by the Bezos Earth Fund) to enhance weather forecasting via AI.
- Water Security: The newly launched Wits:H2O research centre aims to solve South Africa’s water scarcity challenges.
- The WITS BioHub: Ground has been broken on Africa’s first fully integrated “bedside-to-bench” research campus in Parktown.
- HIV Breakthroughs: Wits RHI is leading the milestone study on Lenacapavir for HIV prevention.
Commercialization and Societal Impact
- Spin-outs: Wits Enterprise and the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) registered three new spin-out companies this year.
- Mental Health: The AfriCAT project won the Mental Health Data Prize Africa for its tool targeting adolescent mental health.
- Global Partnerships: Launched the first joint International Research Centre in Africa with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
