The Policy Innovation Lab at Stellenbosch University’s School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, in collaboration with Google, has launched Students Think Innovation, a new competition challenging students to turn their ideas and expertise into solutions with real-world impact.
The initiative will bring together talented students from across disciplines to tackle high-impact challenges in the government sector. Selected teams will develop AI-enabled solutions with mentorship and support from Google and local experts.
The top-performing team will be awarded a R200,000 stipend, with a R100,000 stipend awarded to the second-placed team and a R50,000 stipend to the third-placed team.
Who can apply?
Applications are open to Stellenbosch University students who will be in their third year or above in 2027, as well as postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Students may apply individually or in teams of up to four people. Multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. The competition is designed to bring together different forms of expertise, from technology and data science to engineering, economics, law, the social sciences, health, education and other fields.
Applicants do not need to have a fully developed AI solution. At this stage, the focus is on identifying students and teams with the ability, initiative and complementary expertise needed to take on an ambitious challenge.
Applications will be assessed on the overall strength of the team, including academic performance, the relevance and complementarity of members’ backgrounds and skills, and evidence that applicants have previously shown initiative and successfully delivered projects or meaningful outcomes.
Applicants will be asked to submit:
- A motivation of no more than 500 words outlining their academic backgrounds, complementary capabilities and previous project experience
- A CV for each team member
- An academic transcript for each team member
- Basic biographical and academic information
From idea to working solution
Successful applicants will be selected in October 2026, with the main build phase beginning in early 2027.
The programme is designed to offer students more than a conventional competition experience. Participants will have the opportunity to work on consequential problems, learn from leading experts, collaborate across disciplines and explore how rapidly advancing AI technologies can be applied responsibly to some of society’s most important challenges.
Find out more and apply:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/HkWGdEiiFu
Enquiries: karabot@sun.ac.za