2025

2025

Dates

Jul 07, 2025

- Jul 11, 2025

About

  400+ attendees

connect with other researchers and practitioners

  50+ speakers

attend a showcase of cutting-edge research and applied AI

  4+ tutorials

receive a practical introduction to machine learning for beginners

  50+ posters

share your work and get feedback from experts

  2+ hackathon problems

get your hands dirty and learn from the best

  Demographics


🎤 AI FEST 2025 🖼️

The opening event of Indaba𝕏 South Africa 2025, held at Stellenbosch University. A festive celebration of South African AI innovation, featuring poster sessions, company exhibitions, research showcases, activities, art, music, and food vendors.


Schedule

 08h00 - 09h00

Registration

Civil Engineering Building

Check in, collect conference materials, and prepare for an engaging day ahead! Once you’ve checked in, take a stroll around campus and grab some breakfast from one of the vendors.

 09h00 - 11h00
Machine Learning Maths 2 number of speakers
M2002
Independent Researcher.
InstaDeep
Building Science Communication Capacity in Africa 3 number of speakers
S1018
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Practical Presentation Skills for Researchers 2 number of speakers
E1025
Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Stellenbosch University
 11h00 - 11h30
Debate
S1018
 11h30 - 12h30

🍽️ Lunch

Civil Engineering Cafeteria

Lunch is served! Fuel up and energize for the afternoon! 🍽️

 12h30 - 13h00

Opening Address - Stellenbosch University and Committee

S1018

🎉 Join Stellenbosch University representatives and organising committee for opening remarks, setting the stage for a sensational conference!

 13h00 - 14h00
Keynote 1 number of speakers
S1018
NOSIBLE
 14h00 - 14h30
Welcoming: AI Fest 1 number of speakers
Civil Engineering S1018
 14h30 - 15h00

Capture the Moment

Civil Engineering (outside)

Group photo time! 📸 Gather around and freeze this moment in time together! ❤️

 15h00 - 16h30
AI Fest: Student Poster Session 1 number of speakers
Engineering Building Skywalk (3rd and 4th floors)

 16h30 - 17h00

Music and welcome drinks

Civil Engineering Entrance Hall

Let the music play and the drinks pour! 🎶🥂 Kick off the good vibes with tunes, toasts, and new connections!

 17h00 - 18h30
AI Fest : Exhibition Booth Session 1 number of speakers
Civil Engineering Entrance Hall

 18h30 - 21h30

Movie Night 🎬

Pulp Cinema, Neelsie

 08h00 - 09h00

☕️🍵 & Registration

Civil Engineering Building

Rise and shine: your morning coffee & tea are ready! ☕️🌅 and last-minute sign-ups! ☕

 09h00 - 10h00
Keynote: AI in Agricultural 1 number of speakers
S1018
Tshwane University of Technology
 10h00 - 10h30

☕️🍵

Coffee break

 10h30 - 12h00
Fundamentals: Foundations of Machine Learning 1 number of speakers
S1018
Stellenbosch University
Machine Learning 3 number of speakers
E1025
MWR CyberSec
Stellenbosch University
University of Kwazulu-Natal
Ethics 3 number of speakers
S2002
Research ICT Africa
Von Seidels
University of Johannesburg
 12h00 - 12h30
Debate
S1018
 12h30 - 13h30

🍽️ Lunch

Civil Engineering Cafeteria

Lunch is served! Fuel up and energize for the afternoon! 🍽️

 13h30 - 14h30
Keynote 1 number of speakers
S1018
University of Pretoria
 14h30 - 15h00

☕️🍵

Coffee break

 15h00 - 16h30
Fundamentals: Foundations of Natural Language Processing 1 number of speakers
S1018
IBM Research - Africa
Algorithms 5 number of speakers
E1025
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
Institute of Mine Seismology
University of Kwazulu Natal
NLP 3 number of speakers
S2002
University of Cape Town
University of Johannesburg / Xero
 16h30 - 17h00

☕️🍵

Snack break

 08h00 - 09h00

☕️🍵 & Registration

Civil Engineering Building

Rise and shine: your morning coffee & tea are ready! ☕️🌅 and last-minute sign-ups! ☕

 09h00 - 10h00
Keynote: AI in Agricultural 1 number of speakers
S1018
Takealot
 10h00 - 10h30

☕️🍵

Coffee break

 10h30 - 12h00
Fundamentals of Computer Vision 1 number of speakers
S1018
InstaDeep
MLOps + TA 3 number of speakers
E1025
Takealot
University of Johannesburg / Xero
Neural Networks, Real-life applications and implementation 3 number of speakers
S2002
IBM Research Africa
DeepGate
Stellenbosch University
 12h00 - 12h30
Debate
S1018
 12h30 - 13h30

🍽️ Lunch

Civil Engineering Cafeteria

Lunch is served! Fuel up and energize for the afternoon! 🍽️

 13h30 - 14h30
IBM Skills Building: Workshop 1 number of speakers
M3002
IBM
Eyes in the sky: Applied Deep Learning with MATLAB and Minidrones - Optinum Solutions 1 number of speakers
M2002

 08h00 - 09h00

☕️🍵 & Registration

Civil Engineering Building

Rise and shine: your morning coffee & tea are ready! ☕️🌅 and last-minute sign-ups! ☕

 09h00 - 10h00
Keynote: Quantum Foundations - From Qubits to Intelligent Algorithms 1 number of speakers
S1018
National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS), Stellenbosch University
 10h00 - 10h30

☕️🍵

Coffee break

 10h30 - 12h00
Foundations of Data Literacy 1 number of speakers
S1018
University of Pretoria
Quantum Machine Learning 4 Africa 1 number of speakers
M2002
Building AI Agentic Workflows from scratch: A Hands-On Tutorial on RAG, Text2SQL & Tools 1 number of speakers
M3002
 12h00 - 13h00

🍽️ Lunch

Civil Engineering Cafeteria

Lunch is served! Fuel up and energize for the afternoon! 🍽️

 13h00 - 14h00
Lecture 2 number of speakers
S1018
Centre for High Performance Computing
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Quantum Machine Learning 4 Africa 1 number of speakers
M2002
Building AI Agentic Workflows from scratch: A Hands-On Tutorial on RAG, Text2SQL & Tools 1 number of speakers
M3002
 14h00 - 14h30

☕️🍵

Coffee break

 14h30 - 15h30
Ethics, Health and Applications 4 number of speakers
S1018
Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University
Wits Planetary Health Research
Sand Technologies
Quantum Machine Learning 4 Africa 1 number of speakers
M2002
Building AI Agentic Workflows from scratch: A Hands-On Tutorial on RAG, Text2SQL & Tools 1 number of speakers
M3002
 15h30 - 16h00

☕️🍵

Coffee and Snacks

 16h00 - 17h00

Panel Discussion: 70 Years of AI

S1018
 17h00 - 17h30

S1018

Prize giving 🏅 and closing ceremony 🏆🏁

 17h30 - 18h00

Travel 🎒

 18h00 to late

Closing Event

Dorp, Stellenbosch

Organising committee

photo of Ahmed Ghoor

Programme Chairs & Hackathon

Ahmed Ghoor

University of Queensland
photo of Aldrin Ngorima

Marketing and Communication

Aldrin Ngorima

North-West University
photo of Anna Bosman

Executive Director

Anna Bosman

University of Pretoria
photo of Christopher Currin

Board of Directors

Christopher Currin

IMBIZO
photo of Dan Masethe

Programme Chairs, Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Hackathon

Dan Masethe

Tshwane University of Technology
photo of Devon Jarvis

Fundraising and Sponsor relations

Devon Jarvis

University of the Witwatersrand
photo of Ditiro Rampate

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Applications

Ditiro Rampate

IndabaX Botswana
photo of Eldon Burger

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Eldon Burger

Stellenbosch University
photo of Elizabeth Booi

Programme Chairs & Marketing and Communication

Elizabeth Booi

University of the Western Cape
photo of Emily-Rose Steyn

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & Accounting Support

Emily-Rose Steyn

University of the Witwatersrand
photo of Emmanuel Owusu Ahenkan

Hackathon

Emmanuel Owusu Ahenkan

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences & Stellenbosch University
photo of Francis E. Agamah

AI Fest and Poster Session

Francis E. Agamah

University of Cape Town & DS-I Africa
photo of Gabriel Asare Williams

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Gabriel Asare Williams

Mastercard (African Institute of Mathematical Sciences)
photo of Joel Leonard

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Marketing and Communication

Joel Leonard

University of Pretoria
photo of Kwasi Darkwa

Marketing and Communication & AI Fest and Poster Session

Kwasi Darkwa

IndabaX Botswana & Botho University
photo of Laing Lourens

Fundraising and Sponsor relations

Laing Lourens

CSIR
photo of Lesego Makhafola

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & AI Fest and Poster Session

Lesego Makhafola

University of Pretoria
photo of Louise Fourie

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Louise Fourie

Stellenbosch University
photo of Lucy van der Meulen

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & Marketing and Communication

Lucy van der Meulen

Stellenbosch University
photo of Lydia de Lange

Executive Director, Accounting Support & Fundraising and Sponsor relations

Lydia de Lange

SocioTech
photo of Mahlatse Mbooi

Marketing and Communication

Mahlatse Mbooi

CSIR
photo of Mandlenkosi Zwane

Hackathon & Applications

Mandlenkosi Zwane

Acumen Software
photo of Marcel Dunaiski

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Marcel Dunaiski

Stellenbosch University
photo of Maria Schuld

Board of Directors

Maria Schuld

Xanadu
photo of Matimba Shingange

Programme Chairs & Applications

Matimba Shingange

University of Pretoria
photo of Ndivhuwo Makondo

Programme Chairs

Ndivhuwo Makondo

IBM
photo of Nomonde Khalo

Marketing and Communication

Nomonde Khalo

University of Cape Town
photo of Yeshalen Naicker

Hackathon

Yeshalen Naicker

CSIR
photo of Qiulin Li

Programme Chairs & Hackathon

Qiulin Li

Sand Technologies
photo of Refiloe Motsoeneng

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Refiloe Motsoeneng

Stellenbosch University
photo of Robert Selemani

Hackathon & AI Fest and Poster Session

Robert Selemani

Zindi Africa
photo of Ruan de Kock

Fundraising and Sponsor relations

Ruan de Kock

InstaDeep Ltd & University of Cape Town
photo of Samuel Oladejo

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Hackathon

Samuel Oladejo

Xero & University of Johannesburg
photo of Sthembiso Mkhwanazi

Programme Chairs, Hackathon & AI Fest and Poster Session

Sthembiso Mkhwanazi

CSIR
photo of Stephanie Müller

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & Programme Chairs

Stephanie Müller

IBM & University of the Witwatersrand
photo of Thapelo Maupa

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Applications

Thapelo Maupa

Independent Researcher
photo of Thapelo Sindane

Fundraising and Sponsor relations & Applications

Thapelo Sindane

University of Pretoria
photo of Tim Vermeulen

Local Organisation + Catering and Social Events & AI Fest and Poster Session

Tim Vermeulen

Stellenbosch University