12 October 2026
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Story Andre Damons
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Photo Kaleidoscope
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, Pharmacology of traditional medicine expert at the University of the Free State, has been appointed to an independent Steering Committee from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation that will guide the implementation of the first phase of the African Bio-Innovation Institute.
Prof Matsabisa, Research Director of the African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development (AMITD) Platform at UFS, is one of 11 members appointed to the committee by the DSTI. The committee brings together expertise from across the research and innovation sector. Eight members are drawn from universities and science councils, while the industry, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME), and traditional healing sectors are each represented by one member. The committee is expected to begin its work soon, with the official launch of the first phase of the ABII anticipated early next year.
Building Africa’s bio-innovation capacity
The establishment of the Steering Committee follows the DSTI Executive Committee’s approval of a framework for the ABII in 2022. This was followed by extensive consultations with stakeholders, which resulted in approval for the implementation of Phase 1 in 2024. The first phase includes establishing a Virtual Institute and an independent Steering Committee. The committee will help develop evidence-based implementation plans and oversee a research &Innovation as well as teaching and training strategy for the Institute.
The next phases of the project will include the establishing other institutes including the Natural Medicines and Health Beverages Institute as well as the Cosmeceutical Institute. The ABII is an umbrella institute that will oversee the other institutes and is intended to strengthen and coordinate research and development based on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), while creating stronger links between research, teaching, product development, manufacturing, industry and communities. Prof Matsabisa says the institute will help bring together different areas of expertise while ensuring that research and innovation in IKS are developed in a coordinated and evidence-based manner.
“The purpose of the ABII is to streamline Indigenous Knowledge Systems-based research and development. The institute will support high-level research and development, product development, teaching and training. It will prioritise research and encourage collaboration amongst the sister institutes. The different institutes will focus on different areas of research and development,” says Prof Matsabisa.
Congratulating Prof Matsabisa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, Prof Vasu Reddy, says: “I am especially proud to see Prof Matsabisa entrusted with helping shape a national platform that advances Africa’s bio-innovation future. This appointment reflects his exceptional leadership, scholarship and unwavering commitment to societal impact.
“I have long admired his ability to bridge Indigenous Knowledge Systems, scientific rigour and innovation, demonstrating how Africa’s rich knowledge traditions can drive global solutions. As a university, we celebrate this appointment not only as a recognition of individual achievement, but as an affirmation of the transformative role that African scholarship can play in shaping national and continental responsible societal futures.”
According to Prof Reddy, the African Bio-Innovation Institute represents the kind of bold, future-focused initiative that can unlock new opportunities for health innovation, economic development and knowledge-based growth across the continent.
Bringing research closer to impact
Prof Matsabisa, distinguished researcher and recognised globally as a leading expert in traditional medicine, was invited to serve on the Steering Committee because of his extensive research expertise and experience in traditional medicine, natural products, innovation, product development and commercialisation. His appointment follows his recent recognition with the prestigious Hamilton Naki Award from the National Research Foundation, which acknowledges outstanding contributions to research.
According to Prof Matsabisa, the appointment is both an honour and a responsibility. “It is always great to be recognised for the abilities that I have. I am honoured that my peers have nominated and trusted me to serve in such a high-level decision-making and policy-making role. I am happy to serve the DSTI and the country.”
Guiding the strategic direction
Prof Matsabisa says the Steering Committee will take a strategic, rather than operational, role in guiding the development of the institute and related initiatives. The committee will consider how the institutes align with national research priorities, while providing guidance on financial planning, the allocation and responsible use of resources, and financial oversight.
“The Steering Committee will not be an operational committee, with each established institute having its own administrative structures. The institutes are not just about research, but also about teaching and training new cohorts of students and researchers in the Indigenous Knowledge Systems field,” he explains.
He says the institutes will go beyond research and will therefore contribute to building the next generation of researchers while supporting research and development, informing policy, and fostering product development in collaboration with industry and communities.
For Prof Matsabisa, the initiative represents an opportunity to strengthen Africa’s ability to turn indigenous knowledge into research, innovation, skills and products that can benefit society.
Echoing these views, Prof Reddy says: “The development of the African Bio-Innovation Institute signals a new era of collaborative leadership where evidence-based research informs policy, strengthens capacity and advances continental priorities. At the University of the Free State, we remain committed to supporting leaders whose work inspires us to imagine bigger, collaborate deeper and innovate with purpose for the public good.”