The inaugural South African AI Awards will culminate in a gala dinner in Johannesburg this November, and NTT Data has stepped in as the Exclusive Platinum Partner, the highest level of sponsorship for the event.
According to the announcement, an Exclusive Platinum Partner provides the most substantial financial and promotional backing, positioning the sponsor at the centre of all event communications and giving it a prominent platform to showcase its own AI capabilities.
“South Africa has no shortage of AI innovation, and we believe there is value in creating a credible national platform that identifies, recognises and shares the AI initiatives delivering meaningful impact,” said Amantha Naidoo, executive managing director at NTT Data South Africa. “The opportunity is therefore much greater than attaching our brand to an awards programme. As the Exclusive Platinum Partner, we want to help shine a spotlight on the organisations, teams and use cases advancing AI in South Africa, while encouraging greater participation from large enterprises alongside entrepreneurs, start-ups and emerging innovators.”
For small and medium-size enterprises, the partnership means a rare chance to be seen alongside global tech leaders. The awards cover 25 categories, from enterprise AI integration to township innovation and African-language technology, and nominations are open to start-ups, corporates, NGOs, public-sector bodies and individuals. Winning or even being shortlisted can provide a credibility boost, open doors to new customers, and attract investors who are looking for proven AI applications.
The AI landscape in South Africa has been expanding, with more organisations adopting machine-learning tools to improve efficiency and create new services. However, many projects remain hidden within individual companies or research labs. As Atenkosi Ngubevana, chairperson of the South African AI Awards, noted, the awards “can connect parts of the AI community that seldom come together, give South African innovators greater visibility and build a clearer picture of where the country is making progress.”
Beyond recognition, the awards aim to generate data that can be used for benchmarking the sector. Naidoo added that as the programme matures, it could provide evidence on which industries are leading AI adoption, where measurable value is being created and where gaps remain, information that could help policy makers and investors target support more effectively.
Nomination details, including the full list of categories, are available on the awards website. Interested parties can submit entries through southafricanaiawards.co.za. For more coverage of opportunities for small businesses, visit our SME & Entrepreneurship hub.
Bizcommunity reported that the awards’ 2026 theme, Inclusive Socio-Economic Prosperity, puts practical outcomes such as wider access to healthcare, education, job creation and improved public services at the centre of the programme. This thematic focus means entrants will be judged not only on technical merit but also on the tangible benefits their AI solutions deliver to communities. Organisers expect the theme to attract projects that address pressing societal challenges, encouraging innovators to align their roadmaps with national development goals. By highlighting use cases in healthcare, education and public services, the awards aim to showcase AI’s role in driving inclusive growth across the country.
Bizcommunity noted that NTT Data, a global technology services company with revenues exceeding $30 bn, serves 75 % of the Fortune Global 100. This scale gives the firm deep experience in enterprise-scale AI, cloud and data-centre services, which it will bring to the awards platform. The partnership therefore provides smaller participants with exposure to best-in-class practices and the possibility of leveraging NTT Data’s extensive ecosystem of innovation centres and start-up partners. For South African firms, the link to a provider that operates in more than 70 countries can open pathways to international collaboration and market expansion.
According to Bizcommunity, NTT Group, the parent of NTT Data, invests over $3 bn each year in research and development. This level of R&D spending underpins the advanced AI capabilities that NTT Data promotes as part of its exclusive platinum partnership. For local businesses, the association signals that the awards are backed by a player with a strong commitment to responsible innovation. It also suggests that future editions may incorporate cutting-edge research findings, giving participants access to emerging tools and methodologies that can accelerate their own AI projects.
The nomination process for the South African AI Awards requires entrants to submit detailed evidence of measurable innovation and impact, as outlined on the awards website. Applicants must describe the problem addressed, the AI methodology employed, and the quantifiable outcomes achieved. A panel of judges then evaluates each entry against the 25 categories, which span enterprise integration, AI research, township innovation, African-language technology and sector-specific applications such as healthcare and education. This rigorous assessment ensures that shortlisted projects have demonstrable value, making the awards a credible benchmark for investors and policy makers.
For South African business owners, the awards represent a strategic opportunity to gain visibility, validate their AI initiatives and attract funding. Watching the evolution of the benchmarking data that Naidoo mentioned will be key, as it will reveal which industries are leading adoption and where gaps persist. Companies should monitor the release of sector-level insights after the gala in November, as these reports can guide investment decisions and highlight partnership prospects. Staying engaged with the awards’ community will also help firms stay abreast of regulatory developments and best practices in responsible AI deployment.
