ENabling a Just Energy Transition through Renewable Energy, Governance, and Innovative Sustainable Entrepreneurship (ENERGISE) is an African-German Centre funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Federal Foreign Office (Line A), and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Line B). The project is led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, in collaboration with four South African partner universities: the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and University of Venda.
The project adopts an interdisciplinary approach aimed at supporting a just energy transition (JET) in South Africa through the integration of renewable energy technologies, governance and sustainable entrepreneurship. It is structured around three pillars:
- Capacity Building: Training postgraduate students and young researchers in engineering, policy and entrepreneurship.
- Research: Developing integrated solutions to support the energy transition.
- Transfer and Community Engagement: Establishing Living Labs that translate research outcomes into practical societal and entrepreneurial solutions.
The project commenced in January 2026 and runs until 2030. The project will provide several opportunities, including:
- Fully funded PhD training opportunities;
- International mobility and exchange programmes and research collaborations;
- Workshops, training programmes and capacity development activities;
- Participation in Living Lab activities and community engagement initiatives;
- Promote green entrepreneurship.
TUT is mandated to establish an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Living Lab (EELL), which will serve as a platform for incubation, innovation and the transformation of ideas into small and medium-sized enterprises within the JET sector. The Living Lab is expected to facilitate collaboration among academic departments, industry, communities and other stakeholders while supporting community development and engagement initiatives.