“ICSSM 2026 brought researchers and industry together to explore AI, sustainability, commercialisation and Africa’s role in shaping the future of Industry 5.0.”
09 September 2026 | Story by: Tshepiso Kaibe | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
6 minutes read time.
While artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing dominated discussions at the second International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing (ICSSM 2026), a recurring question emerged throughout the event: how can Africa help shape the future of industry rather than simply consume technologies developed elsewhere?
Hosted by the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) from 1 to 4 September 2026 under the theme AI-Driven Systems in the Era of Industry 5.0, the conference brought together researchers, academics and industry leaders from South Africa and abroad to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by the next phase of industrial development.
Opening the conference, VUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning and Chair of the Organising Committee, Dr Grace Kanakana-Katumba, challenged delegates to consider Africa’s role in the global technology landscape.
“How do we ensure that we are not simply consumers of technology, but also part of the developments in the way that we produce our technologies?” she asked.
Her question set the tone for four days of discussions that examined not only technological advancement, but also sustainability, economic inclusion and the role of universities in driving innovation.
A key message that emerged was that Industry 5.0 is about more than smarter machines. While Industry 4.0 focused on automation and digital connectivity, the next phase places greater emphasis on human-centred innovation, sustainability and collaboration between people and intelligent systems.
Professor Karim Djouani,(Department of Science, Technology and Innovation National Research Foundation South African Research Chairs Initiative) DSI-NRF SARChI Chair in Applied Artificial Intelligence at Tshwane University of Technology, explored advances in human-robot collaboration and intelligent systems capable of reasoning and responding in complex environments. Yet despite these developments, he stressed that human oversight remains essential.
“The robot will make the decision. He will propose. He will negotiate. He will resolve. The human must make the decision,” he said.
The human-centred dimension of Industry 5.0 extended beyond advanced robotics. Dr Khumbuzile Nedohe from the University of Johannesburg highlighted the importance of worker well-being in industrial environments, particularly in resource-constrained settings where access to sophisticated technologies may be limited.
Her research reinforced the view that technological progress should ultimately improve the lives and working conditions of people rather than focus solely on efficiency and productivity.
The conference also explored the environmental implications of increasingly digital industries. As artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven systems continue to expand, questions are being raised about energy consumption, electronic waste and the sustainability of digital transformation.
Professor Olga Battaïa of KEDGE Business School in France urged delegates to take a balanced view of technological advancement.
“We are quite too optimistic about the potential of digitalisation without looking at possible drawbacks,” she cautioned.
Rather than slowing innovation, discussions centred on ensuring that technological progress aligns with broader sustainability goals.
This thinking was particularly evident in conversations around circular manufacturing and the growing effort to transform waste into economic opportunities.
Dr Abu Kamal, Research Chair in Biomaterials at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Canada, argued that industries capable of keeping materials and resources in circulation will be better positioned for the future.
At VUT, researchers are already exploring such opportunities. Professor Ayodele Ajayi highlighted ongoing research into banana fibre and its potential use in construction and automotive applications, presenting an example of how locally available resources could be transformed into value-added products.
The discussions also highlighted Africa’s untapped industrial potential. With abundant natural resources, growing research capacity and a rapidly expanding consumer market, delegates argued that the continent is well positioned to play a more significant role in global manufacturing and innovation.
Mr Tshetlhe Litheko, Chief Policy Officer at the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), challenged delegates to think differently about Africa’s position in global value chains.
“If we really desire it, why not make it?” he asked.
Central to that ambition, he argued, is stronger collaboration between universities and industry to ensure that research expertise translates into industrial capability and economic growth.
Emerging technologies are creating new opportunities for such collaboration. Mr Emanuel Zeferino from the University of Twente in the Netherlands examined the rise of battery gigafactories and their growing importance in electric mobility, renewable energy systems and smart manufacturing.
For Africa, the opportunity extends beyond supplying critical minerals. Delegates emphasised the need to develop local manufacturing capacity, research expertise and innovation ecosystems that enable the continent to capture greater value from its own resources.
However, research alone is not enough.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the importance of commercialising innovation and ensuring that research outcomes translate into practical solutions.
Ms Mbali Blaai, Centre Manager of the Rail Manufacturing Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator at Tshwane University of Technology, argued that South Africa’s greatest challenge is not a shortage of innovation but the ability to move ideas from laboratories into industry.
“I do not think we have an innovation problem. I think it is more of a commercialisation problem,” she said.
Examples shared during the conference demonstrated the impact that can be achieved when academia and industry work together, from virtual reality training platforms to manufacturing technologies adopted by industry partners.
For VUT, this alignment between research, innovation and industry reflects the broader mission of a university of technology.
Addressing delegates during the conference, VUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Stephen Khehla Ndlovu emphasised the responsibility of universities to develop knowledge that delivers meaningful impact.
“As technology transforms industries, universities have an equally important responsibility to generate the knowledge, develop the skills, and build the partnerships that enable society to respond to these changes,” he said.
His remarks reinforced a theme that resonated throughout the conference: collaboration remains essential to addressing complex global challenges and ensuring that innovation creates tangible benefits for society.
As ICSSM 2026 concluded, discussions increasingly focused on what comes next. Whether examining artificial intelligence, sustainable manufacturing, circular economies or advanced energy technologies, delegates agreed that the future of Industry 5.0 will be shaped not only by technological breakthroughs, but by how effectively they serve people, economies and the environment.
For Africa, the message was clear. The continent possesses the talent, resources and knowledge to play a leading role in the next industrial era. The challenge now is to strengthen partnerships, commercialise innovation and build the industrial capabilities needed to move from technology adoption to technology creation.
That ambition may ultimately be the most important outcome of ICSSM 2026. Beyond the presentations and discussions, the conference highlighted a growing determination to ensure that Africa is not merely adapting to the future of industry but actively helping to build it.