Wits and Bidvest launch Chair in Smart Solutions
- Wits University
The R6 million investment will advance research, innovation and postgraduate development in telecoms, AI and smart technologies.
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Bidvest Services International have strengthened their partnership with the launch of the Wits Bidvest Chair in Smart Solutions, a strategic initiative aimed at advancing research, innovation and human capacity development in emerging technologies.
Housed within the School of Electrical and Information Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, the Chair is supported by a R6 million contribution from Bidvest Services International over three years. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to developing industry-responsive solutions, strengthening postgraduate research and translating academic expertise into practical applications that address real-world challenges.
The Chair builds on an existing collaboration between Wits and Bidvest, following an initial 18 months of research collaboration and support through Professor Ling Cheng's engagement with the organisation. The new commitment provides a foundation for extending this collaboration through a dedicated research and postgraduate development initiative.
Cheng, Wits Bidvest Chair Holder and Full Professor in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, will lead the initiative, drawing on his expertise in telecommunications, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. The Chair will focus on advancing research in telecommunications, AI and smart technologies, while fostering collaboration between academic researchers, postgraduate students and industry partners.
“Strong partnerships between universities and industry are essential for translating research into practical solutions. The Chair provides an opportunity to build on our existing collaboration with Bidvest, develop research talent and explore how AI-assisted technologies can address challenges in industry and society,” says Cheng.
Connecting research with industry needs
The establishment of the Chair highlights the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in responding to rapidly evolving technological and economic needs. By bringing together research expertise, postgraduate talent and industry perspectives, the initiative aims to strengthen the link between fundamental research and practical implementation.
Through the Chair, Wits seeks to develop research-led solutions that are relevant to industry while contributing to broader technological advancement in South Africa and the African continent. The initiative will also support postgraduate supervision and research output, creating opportunities for emerging researchers to engage with challenging problems and develop the skills needed to contribute to an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The focus on telecommunications, artificial intelligence and smart technologies creates opportunities to explore applications across interconnected systems, intelligent infrastructure and other areas where advanced communication technologies and AI can support more effective decision-making and operations.
Visit the Digital Smart Lab for more information about the projects underway.
Investing in future research talent
Postgraduate development is a central component of the Chair. By strengthening the research environment and creating opportunities for students to participate in collaborative projects, the initiative aims to develop highly skilled graduates and researchers who can contribute to academic advancement, industrial innovation and the wider economy.
The partnership also provides a platform for closer engagement between Wits researchers and Bidvest, enabling research priorities to be informed by practical challenges and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between the university and industry.
As the Chair develops over its three-year term, its ambition is to establish a sustainable foundation for collaborative research, technological innovation and human capacity development.
The Wits Bidvest Chair in Smart Solutions demonstrates how strategic industry investment can support universities in advancing knowledge, developing talent and contributing to solutions that matter to South Africa and the broader African region.