South Africa has made history at the AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2025, with two local student teams claiming first and second place at the international finals of the worldwide design contest – the only country to place two teams on the global podium this year

The overall winner was an all-female South African team, the first in AAKRUTI’s 15-year history, marking a significant milestone for women in engineering and innovation education.

Watch the moment the winners were announced at 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston, Texas (4 February 2026).

Two South African Teams on the World Stage

First place was awarded to UJ Wom+n in Tech, an all-women team from the University of Johannesburg, while Team Dr Bou secured second place. 

Both teams competed in the Sustainable Products for Human Wellness category, developing practical, human-centred solutions to real-world challenges.

The dual placement highlights the depth of South Africa’s emerging student talent and reflects the growing strength of local universities in preparing students for global innovation platforms.

A Rapid Rise in Global Competition

Founded in 2011, AAKRUTI has evolved into one of the world’s leading student innovation competitions, supported by Dassault Systèmes. Over the past 15 years, more than 45 000 students from 12 countries have participated, using SOLIDWORKS professional engineering tools to develop solutions with real-world impact.

South Africa entered the competition for the first time in 2024, with the national rounds organised and hosted locally by MECAD Systems.

In 2025, 20 local teams registered, four progressed to the national finals, and two advanced through the EMEAR (EuroWest) regional round before qualifying for the international final. 

Both teams ultimately placed in the global top three.

Building Opportunity Through Education

MECAD Education Specialist Hayley Abrahams said the achievement reflects the value of encouraging students to apply academic learning to real-world problem-solving on a global stage.

“It is an incredible honour to be part of the AAKRUTI Competition, inspiring students from various faculties to engage in real-world design thinking. We proudly encourage participation and support curious, driven students who embrace this challenge with passion. This is South Africa’s second year participating, and I am immensely proud of the all-female team who won the international competition, as well as the first runner-up team – both representing South Africa. With participation from over 12 countries, it is truly an honour to support and celebrate the bright engineering talent of our country.”

Beyond podium finishes, the competition provides students with international exposure, industry-aligned experience, and access to professional design platforms – strengthening the link between education and innovation.

Looking Ahead

With South African students now firmly established on the global AAKRUTI stage, MECAD continues to encourage universities and student teams across the country to participate in future editions of the competition.

Registrations for AAKRUTI 2026 open in April. For South Africa’s next generation of innovators, the message is clear: the door is open.