Sponsors Prospectus

Innovation Festival 2025 Sponsorship Prospectus

Unisa Muckleneuk, Florida and Sunnyside Campuses

18 November to 20 November 2025

 

Theme

Proudly African, Globally Relevant

 

Hashtag

#UnisaInnoFest2025

#InnoFest2025

#InnovationFestival2025

 

Overview

The Innovation Festival, hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA), will take place from 19 to 20 November 2025. The Festival serves as a platform to showcase innovative ideas, highlight emerging trends, and foster collaboration across the innovation ecosystem.

Since its inception in 2022, the Festival has grown in scope and impact, bringing together stakeholders from academia, government, industry, NGOs, funding agencies, social enterprises, and the broader entrepreneurial community. The 2025 edition will continue this trajectory by featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions aimed at encouraging knowledge exchange and partnership building.

Participation in the Festival is open to researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and the wider innovation community, including Unisa staff, students, and alumni. Through these engagements, the Innovation Festival reinforces Unisa’s role in advancing innovation, research translation, and societal impact.

 

Why should you sponsor the Innovation Festival 2025?

Brand Visibility and Awareness: Sponsoring the event provides a platform to showcase its brand, products, and services to a targeted audience that includes students, academics, entrepreneurs, and other industry professionals.

Talent Recruitment: Sponsoring the event allows your company to engage with potential recruits, get first-hand information on the latest innovations, and identify upcoming innovators

Networking and Collaboration: The event provides opportunities to network with other industry leaders, academic institutions, and potential partners.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Sponsoring this event will demonstrate your company's commitment to supporting innovation in Africa.

Market Intelligence and Trends: Being part of this event will allow your company to stay informed about the latest trends, research, and developments in technology and innovation. Thought Leadership: Sponsoring and participating in panels, workshops, and discussions will allow your company to position itself as a thought leader in the industry, sharing expertise and insights with the broader community.

Supporting Innovation Ecosystem: By sponsoring the Innovation Festival, your company can support the growth of the local innovation ecosystem, fostering an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and technological advancement.

 

The following sponsorship levels and exhibition stands are available with different associated benefits:

Platinum - (Plenary Venue Sponsor) – R200,000-00/ A Marquee and a sponsored lunch

  • Sponsored Keynote Address (a 15 minutes presentation aligned to the conference theme)
  • A complimentary table at the awards ceremony
  • Exhibition stand for display of books, literature, equipment etc.
  • A full-page A4 colour advert in the conference programme on the inside or outside of the back cover.
  • Display of promotional material (e.g. banners) at the event
  • A banner advertisement on the conference website with a link to the company website
  • Acknowledgement in all literature and on the conference website
  • Verbal acknowledgement during sponsored activities
  • Audio-visual presentation at sponsored event;
  • Inclusion of promotional material in the conference bag; and
  • Display of the company logo on sponsored material.

Gold – (Awards Ceremony Sponsor) - R150,000-00

  • Introduce keynote speaker at awards ceremony
  • Formal thank you during the ceremony
  • Opportunity to host ceremony guest speaker
  • A complimentary table at the Awards ceremony
  • Exhibition stand for display of books, literature, equipment etc.
  • A full-page A4 colour advert in the conference programme just before the back cover
  • Display of promotional material (e.g. banners) at the event;
  • A banner advertisement on the conference website with a link to the company website
  • Verbal acknowledgement during sponsored activities
  • Inclusion of promotional material in the conference bag
  • Display of the company logo on sponsored material

Gold 2 – (Keynote & Sub-Theme Speakers - Sponsor) - R100,000-00

  • Introduce keynote speaker at the conference;
  • Formal thank you during the keynote;
  • A complimentary table at the awards ceremony
  • Exhibition stand for display of books, literature, equipment etc.
  • A full-page A4 colour advert in the conference programme just before the
  • back cover
  • Display of promotional material (e.g. banners) at the event;
  • A banner advertisement on the conference website with a link to the company website
  • Verbal acknowledgement during sponsored activities
  • Inclusion of promotional material in the conference bag
  • Display of the company logo on sponsored material

Silver Sponsor -  R80,000-00

  • Sponsor students conference attendance costs
  • Formal thank you at the event
  • One awards dinner ticket (Plus one included)
  • Display of promotional material (e.g. banners) at the event
  • A banner advertisement on the conference website with a link to the company website;
  • Acknowledgement in all literature and on the conference website
  • Verbal acknowledgement during sponsored activities
  • Inclusion of promotional material in the conference bag
  • Display of the company logo on sponsored material

Bronze Sponsor - R50,000-00

  • Signage at the conference (2 banners)
  • Formal thank you
  • One awards dinner ticket (with plus 1)
  • Inclusion of company logo on the conference website page
  • Exhibition stand for display of books, literature, equipment etc.;

Awards Ceremony Sponsor – R20,000

  • 4 x Pull up banners
  • Acknowledgement of your sponsorship from the Podium
  • Flyers and brochures in the awards ceremony area
  • Company logo and link on website
  • Logo in event brochure
  • Logo in promotional emails

 

Gift Sponsorship Invitation

Kindly select from the options below the branded gift sponsorship you would like to contribute. Please note that you will be acknowledged as a Gift Sponsor on all communication, as well as on the gift bag that will contain the sponsored items from other stakeholders. Do note that we expect a minimum of 400 in person delegates.

  • A marquee for onsite side events to the value of R95 297,50
  • Branded Delegate & Speaker Gifts
  • Power banks
  • Wireless chargers
  • Mini ring lights for online meetings
  • Solar-powered desk lamps
  • Digital notepads
  • Branded backpacks or laptop bags
  • Innovation-themed stationery packs
  • Wellness kits (tea packs, healthy snacks, stress-relief items).
  • Sponsored e-learning vouchers (Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)
  • Book sponsorship (e.g., innovation/entrepreneurship titles in a gift bag)
  • Desk plants (eco-branded succulents)
  • Branded notebooks and pens for sessions
  • Sponsored photo booths or VR/AR experience zones
  • Charging stations branded with sponsor logos
  • Refreshment sponsorship (coffee bars, water stations, snack tables).
  • High-Value Draw or Raffle Items
  • Tablets
  • Smartwatches
  • Fitness bands