TT100 awards show innovation is alive and thriving in SA

28 October 2016 Contributing writer

Despite widespread pessimism over South Africa’s skills shortages and economic prospects, the country has a thriving culture of business innovation capable of flourishing in adversity. This was abundantly clear at The Da Vinci Institute / TT100 Business Innovation Awards Programme, where the quality of the award winners revealed the depth of innovation in South African companies of all sizes, from emerging and small enterprises to medium-sized and large companies.

From car-locking systems that won’t let the driver behind the wheel when over the blood alcohol limit to technology that ensures the integrity of cleaning procedures in the food and beverages industry, the achievements of the winners show how companies are putting their talents to work to overcome uniquely South African challenges.

The 2016 TT100 awards – the 25th edition since the programme was established in 1991 – were presented at the Johannesburg Country Club on Thursday October 27, under the auspices of TT100: The Da Vinci Institute School of Managerial Leadership. Da Vinci’s awards partners are the Department of Science and Technology, MTN and Eskom.

Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor gave the keynote address and presented the awards, which recognised top-performing companies in four main categories: management of technology, management of innovation, management of people, and management of systems and sustainability.

In each category, awards were presented to the top emerging, small, medium-sized and large companies.

In addition, four special awards from the minister and the director-general of science and technology were presented for overall excellence.

Here are the 2016 winners and finalists in each category:

Management of technology category

Emerging enterprise

WINNER: SVA Innovate

Finalists:
RocketMine Aerial Data Solutions
JoinCircles
Niche Integrated Solutions

Small enterprise

WINNER: Technetium

Finalists:
X/procure Software SA
Agilitude
COLONYHQ
Hazleton Pumps International

Medium enterprise

WINNER: Cornastone Telecommunications

Finalists:
SSG Consulting
Accsys

Large enterprise

WINNER: Allied Electronics Corporation Limited

Finalists:
De Beers Technologies South  Africa (DebTech)
PFK Electronics

http://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/innovation/2016-10-28-tt100-awards-show-innovation-is-alive-and-thriving-in-sa/