College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2024 67 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TPC continued to drive research innovation aligned to national development priorities. Projects included: Evaluation of hackathons as alternative learning ecosystems AI-driven solutions for GBV reporting, mental health, and digital misinformation Drafting of joint publications with postgraduates and academic departments Strategic R&D partnerships were established with Innovation Hub, CSIR, and Innovation Village (Ghana) to build capacity for scalable research, innovation, and incubation models. UN SDGs: 9 (Innovation), 11 (Sustainable Communities) UJ Goals: 1 (Research), 6 (Societal Impact) INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AI, AND SOCIETAL IMPACT In 2024, the Technopreneurship Centre continued to drive high-impact innovation through studentled hackathons, solution development, and incubation initiatives. A major highlight was the development of a GBV-based incident reporting solution designed specifically for use on campus. This system enables secure, anonymous reporting of gender-based violence, empowering students and staff with a proactive digital tool aligned to UJ’s commitment to safety, justice, and inclusion. In December 2024, team Hack_Are_Tech launched the first version of the Chomie App in collaboration with SheLeads and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), aiming to address community engagement and safety through a mobile-first approach. Additional innovations included: Falsify: An AI-powered platform to detect and flag misinformation on social media Mindmate: A chatbot providing mental health guidance and support Multilingual WhatsApp chatbots developed during the Vulavula API Hackathon, offering public access to services such as municipal queries, mobile clinic locators, and insurance quotes Several of these innovations were incubated through the UJ Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and selected for acceleration support by Hacklab Foundation. The Centre also received a special project grant from MICT SETA, enabling long-term sustainability and scaling of these solutions. In 2024, TPC received R1.05 million in funding from MICT SETA to support its strategic innovation and capacity-building initiatives. UN SDGs: 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 9 (Industry, Innovation), 11 (Sustainable Communities) UJ 2030 Goals: 2 (Student Success), 6 (Societal Impact), 5 (Pan-African Innovation) TPC hosting Vulavula API hackathon at UJ bunting road campus
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