The EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge officially opened for entries on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, launching what organisers describe as a structured pathway to develop student innovations into viable, scalable ventures that address pressing societal challenges across South Africa and potentially beyond.
Implemented within the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme of Universities South Africa (USAf), the EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge is just one of four initiatives included in a USAf-Absa partnership aimed at creating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem across South Africa’s 26 public universities.
With a total prize pool exceeding R1 million and a comprehensive support system including mentorship, boot camps, and incubation programmes, the challenge represents the largest student entrepreneurship initiative ever launched across South Africa’s 26 public universities.