Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Innovation and Commercialisation Division celebrated its growing community of spinout companies—and the people behind them—at the 2026 SU Enterprises CEO Awards in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 1 September.
The annual event recognises the collective achievements of all 44 companies in SU’s spinout portfolio, while also honouring those that have distinguished themselves over the past year.
This year, TerraClim, Navu, Biotrac Systems, FluoroBiotech and CubeSpace received awards for commercial growth, emerging potential, resilience, ecosystem-building and global impact respectively. Together, the five companies are developing solutions spanning agriculture, assistive technology, water management, biotechnology and space technology.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, and Chief Director: Innovation and Commercialisation Anita Nel joined founders, CEOs, researchers, investors and partners at the annual event, held at 401 Rozendal outside Stellenbosch.
Opening the event, Nel highlighted the collective economic impact of SU’s spinout portfolio. The companies generated combined turnover exceeding R630 million in 2025—23% more than the previous year—and employed 550 people by April 2026. SU’s spinout companies also recorded a five-year survival rate of 89,2%.
Nel said bringing university technologies to market involves much more than having a promising idea. “We have a particularly strong network and a community to support and grow our companies, and I’m deeply thankful for every one of you who plays a positive role in our story,” she said.
Ramjugernath placed innovation and entrepreneurship firmly within the University’s academic and societal mission. “Our responsibility cannot end with just the creation of knowledge,” he said. “For Stellenbosch University, innovation and entrepreneurship are therefore not activities that sit on the periphery of our academic mission. They are part of how we translate that mission into impact.”
Winde emphasised the importance of creating an environment in which entrepreneurs can innovate, attract investment and grow. He said the entrepreneurs emerging from SU, Innovus and LaunchLab offered “unbelievable hope” and were helping to strengthen the Western Cape’s reputation for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology development.
Hill-Lewis said SU was “absolutely setting the pace for what is possible and what is achievable in the commercialisation of research in this Western Cape region”.
The five companies celebrated at the event were:
· TerraClim received the Growth Champion Award. Its climate-intelligence technology transforms weather-station data into detailed temperature maps that support agricultural decision-making. The award recognised its exceptional revenue growth, clear strategy, strong partnerships and commercial execution.
· Navu received the Rising Star Award. The emerging company is developing prosthetic knees designed around African terrain, walking behaviour and lived realities. It was recognised for its early momentum, market relevance and potential to improve mobility and dignity at scale.
· Biotrac Systems received the Resilience Award. The company develops real-time microbial-monitoring technology for industrial water systems and was recognised for the team’s perseverance in taking a deep-tech innovation from an academic solution to a commercially viable product.
· FluoroBiotech received the Ecosystem Champion Award. The company produces complex raw materials used in biopharmaceuticals and diagnostics, including vaccines and PCR tests. It was honoured for embracing collaboration, opening doors for others and helping to strengthen South Africa’s biotechnology community.
· CubeSpace received the Global Impact Award. The SU spinout develops and exports satellite control systems and supplies NASA, the European Space Agency and international commercial satellite constellations. It was recognised for its ability to compete successfully on the global stage.
Hill-Lewis said the five companies demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurial ambition in developing the region’s economy and creating employment.
The five awards also recognised the wider community behind SU’s growing portfolio. Together, its 44 spinout companies show how university research can become real-world solutions, globally competitive businesses and economic opportunity—when researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry, government and the University work as an ecosystem.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: SU
