Young SA Innovators Shine at CIPC’s First-Ever IP Youth Awards
South Africa’s next generation of inventors took centre stage at the inaugural CIPC IP Youth Awards on 27 March 2025 in Pretoria, where the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) honoured game-changing innovations by young creatives aged 15 to 28.
From x-ray glasses to digital health record tools, the awards celebrated clever solutions with real-world impact. Among the night’s standout winners was the dynamic duo Mahlogonolo and Masego Mphahlele, who took home the Women in IP award for their invention of TwinX – glasses that perform quicker, safer x-rays. And that’s not sci-fi, rather local brilliance in action.
Other big wins included:
Tech for Good: Juandre Klopper’s EZ Airway – making advanced airway management easier.
Counterfeit Combat: Taharah Mchunu’s MyRariFile – streamlining access to health records.
Copyright Creators: Nhlanhla Langa’s Mo ‘n Fro – a fresh take on online gaming.
SMME Excellence: Landile Mabele’s NavWok – a smart walking stick empowering the visually impaired.
CIPC Commissioner, Adv. Rory Voller, summed it up best: “IP isn’t just a legal term – it’s the heartbeat of innovation and growth.”
Accountants, take note: this is the kind of future-forward thinking your clients—especially youth-led businesses and SMMEs—need support navigating. Intellectual property is not just for lawyers. It’s your gateway to helping innovators protect, value, and grow their ideas.
📅 Save the date: The 2026 IP Youth Awards are already in the pipeline, with promises of mentorship and funding opportunities. A new era of innovation is here—are your clients ready?
Read more in the CIPC Press Release.
