The PhD Challenge, an initiative affiliated with the Business Incubation Web Association (BIWA), is designed to help researchers move their doctoral research beyond academic publication and explore its potential for enterprise, entrepreneurship, innovation and societal impact.

The Challenge asks a practical question: What happens next after the PhD?

Researchers will be challenged to communicate the practical and economic value of their doctoral research through a three-minute research pitch, focusing on how their knowledge, technology or research findings could contribute to real-world solutions, businesses, industries or society.

The initiative uses the GrowthWheel business advisory framework to help researchers examine their research from a more practical and commercial perspective.

What the Challenge Offers

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Pitch their doctoral research in three minutes, focusing on its practical and economy-building potential.
• Explore how academic research can be translated into enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Work with participants from different disciplines to identify potential applications and opportunities.
• Connect with academics, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, funders and ecosystem partners.
• Explore possible pathways for commercialisation, partnerships and further development of research.
• Gain access to the broader research-to-impact ecosystem.
• Receive lifetime free access to GrowthWheel for Entrepreneurs.
• Receive one-year BIWA Community of Practice membership.

How the Challenge Works

The initiative is structured around four stages:

1. The Pitch

• Up to 200 PhD researchers will present their research.
• Each researcher has three minutes to explain the practical and economy-building value of their research.
• The focus is on the potential application and impact of the research rather than methodology or a traditional academic literature review.

2. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Participants work across disciplines to explore how research can be translated into:
  • Business concepts
  • Digital solutions
  • Policy interventions
  • Tools and methodologies
  • Standards
  • Commercialisation opportunities

3. Selection

• Promising research ideas are identified for further development beyond the event.

4. Academic Incubation Programme

• Selected researchers can progress into structured support focused on translating research into measurable economic and social impact.

Who Should Attend / Apply?

The Challenge is particularly relevant to:

• Researchers who have completed a PhD within the past 10 years.
• Academics and researchers interested in taking their research beyond publication.
• Researchers exploring entrepreneurship, innovation or commercialisation.
• Universities and research institutions interested in strengthening research-to-market pathways.
• Entrepreneurs interested in working with research-driven innovations.
• Industry representatives looking for research, technologies and new solutions.
• Funders and investors interested in research-based innovation.
• Innovation ecosystem organisations, incubators and accelerators.
• Organisations interested in connecting research with enterprise and societal challenges.

Key Eligibility / Participation Requirement

• Open to researchers who graduated with a PhD within the past 10 years.
• Participation is limited to 200 researchers.
• Registration is required.

Why This Matters

A significant amount of doctoral research remains within academic environments even when it could potentially contribute to businesses, public services, new technologies, policy solutions or social innovation.

The PhD Challenge creates a bridge between knowledge creation and knowledge application by asking researchers to think about:

• Who could use this research?
• What problem could it solve?
• Could it become a product, service or business?
• What industry or organisation could benefit from it?
• What partnerships would be needed?
• What would it take to move the research towards implementation or commercialisation?

This makes the event particularly relevant to South Africa's broader research, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation ecosystem.

Event Details

• Date: 21 August 2026
• Time: 09:00
• Venue: Alexforbes Head Office
• Address: 115 West Street, Sandown, Sandton, Gauteng, 2196
• Registration Fee: R333 (current price listed on Webtickets).
• Participant capacity: 200 PhD researchers

Click HERE to get your ticket.