On Thursday, 12 February 2026, staff representatives from 37 universities in Sweden and South Africa attended the AIMday workshop for the full day. The online workshop aimed to raise awareness of the proposed AIMday events scheduled for May. AIMDay is a key deliverable of SASUF+ Work Package 1, which aims to connect academia and industry, fostering collaborative dialogue and joint research to address real-world challenges. MUT’s SASUF Coordinator, Mbali Mkhize said the team will engage the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Anette Mienie to explore strategic avenues for maximising MUT’s impact and visibility in the upcoming AIMday activities.
She further stated that “AIMday seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice, and brings together researchers and industry, government, and civil society to co-create solutions. This initiative stimulates partnerships between South African and Swedish universities, informs future research and funding proposals, and enhances societal impact by ensuring that academic research aligns with pressing economic, social, environmental, and policy needs.”
Mbali Mkhize shared with 67 delegates at the AIMday workshop the approach MUT took to fostering industry partnerships, which resulted in the successful EnergyWaterFoodClimate (EWFC) summit hosted by MUT in 2024. AIMday has a better chance of success at MUT and will serve as a dress rehearsal for the planned AI summit on EWFC, scheduled for later this year. A call will be made through the Research Office to provide more details on AIMday participation and funding opportunities.