Stellenbosch University (SU) has celebrated five of its spin-off companies in its 2026 SU Enterprises CEO Awards. The companies concerned are Biotrac Systems, CubeSpace, FluoroBiotech, Navu and TerraClim.

“Our responsibility cannot end with just the creation of knowledge,” affirmed SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Deresh Ramjugernath. “For [SU], 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.”

“[SU is] absolutely setting the pace for what is possible and what is achievable in the commercialisation of research in this Western Cape region. We agree and support that world-class research should not just stay in the lab. We want to do everything possible to help this community succeed and to replicate it elsewhere,” highlighted Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, one of the guests of honour at the event. “Ambition is not something to be treated with suspicion. It is absolutely something to be celebrated. Go ahead and build companies that can stand alongside the best in the world.”

The 44 companies that SU has spun-off achieved a combined turnover of more than R30-million last year, which was a 23% increase over the figure for 2024. In April this year, they employed a combined total of 550 people. Companies spun-off by SU had an 89.2% five-year survival rate.

Regarding the five companies celebrated by the event, TerraClim won the Growth Champion Award. The company developed climate-intelligence technology which converted data from weather stations into detailed temperature maps, to help agricultural decision-making. It won the award because of its clear strategy, strong partnerships, commercial execution and outstanding revenue growth.

Navu, which is developing prosthetic knees designed to cope with African terrain, lived realities and walking behaviour, was the winner of the Rising Star Award. This was in recognition of the early momentum it has achieved, its potential to improve mobility and dignity on a large scale, and its market relevance.

The Resilience Award went to Biotrac Systems, for persevering in the development of a deep-tech innovation from being an academic project to a commercially viable product. That product is real-time microbial monitoring technology for industrial water systems.

FluoroBiotech was presented with the Ecosystem Champion Award, for its enthusiasm for collaborations, helping others and reinforcing the country’s biotech community. The company produced complex raw materials for use in biopharmaceuticals and diagnostics, including polymerase chain reaction (better known as PCR) tests and vaccines.

Last but far from least, the Global Impact Award went to CubeSpace. This company developed, produced and exported satellite control systems and was recognised for its success in competing in the global market. Its customers included the European Space Agency, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and commercial space operators.