Member Portal

Your Digital Identity in the STI Ecosystem

4
Chapters
R85,000
Total Annual Pool per Cohort
6
Stage Onboarding
KYC/KYB
Verified

Membership Four Membership Chapters

Each chapter serves a distinct stakeholder group with tailored benefits, onboarding workflows, and working group access. All memberships include verified identity, governance participation, and platform access.

Corporate Chapter
R50,000 /year

SA and international companies active in STI sectors

Companies committed to STI investment, business-friendly policies, BBBEE transformation

  • Governance Board nomination rights
  • Working Group leadership eligibility
  • Flagship event hosting & sponsorship
  • Policy advocacy & lobbying platform
  • B2B Marketplace priority listing
  • Annual STI Lecture invite
  • Industry Partners Chamber access
Referral incentive: 5% of first-year fee (R2,500)
Start-ups Chapter
R10,000 /year

Science & tech startups with 5+ employees and scalable growth

Entrepreneurs and founders in technology sectors

  • Innovation hub & incubator access
  • Mentorship from Corporate members
  • Public Venture Capital Fund pipeline
  • Working Group participation
  • B2B Marketplace listing
  • Networking events & roadshows
Referral incentive: 5% of first-year fee (R500)
Academic Chapter
R20,000 /year

Universities of Technology, TVETs, STI-focused universities

Higher education institutions with research and industry partnership mandates

  • Research collaboration frameworks
  • Dual education partnership design
  • Curriculum co-design with industry
  • Student workplace placement coordination
  • Working Group 4 & 10 participation
  • Annual STI Lecture co-hosting
Referral incentive: 5% of first-year fee (R1,000)
STI Professionals Chapter
R5,000 /year

Professors, researchers, executives with STI expertise

Senior professionals with demonstrated impact in science, technology, or innovation

  • Professional development programmes
  • Working Group participation
  • Networking across all chapters
  • Annual National Conference access
  • STI Lecture series access
  • Expert advisory opportunities
Referral incentive: 5% of first-year fee (R250)

Onboarding Six-Stage Member Activation

Every member passes through a structured, verifiable onboarding process — from first interest to full platform activation.

Step 1
Interest Capture
Application form, QR code, or referral link
→
Step 2
Segmentation
Chapter qualification and working group alignment
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Step 3
Onboarding Pack
Welcome kit, governance documents, platform credentials
→
Step 4
Review & Approval
Selection Committee assessment against membership criteria
→
Step 5
KYC/KYB Verification
Identity verification for individuals (KYC) and organisations (KYB)
→
Step 6
Activation
Full platform access, working group assignment, billing setup

Dashboard Member Dashboard

Every member sees a personalised view of their engagement, compliance, and opportunities.

Member Dashboard — Katlego Mokwena, CTO at InnoTech Solutions
STI Business Forum
Corporate
Chapter
3
Working Groups
7
Events Attended
85%
Profile Complete
Profile Completeness 85%
Active Working Groups
WKG 2: Smart Manufacturing
WKG 5: AI & Emerging Tech
WKG 8: Startup Development
Upcoming Events
Annual STI Lecture — 15 May
Roadshow: Cape Town — 22 May
Compliance Status
KYC: Verified
BBBEE: Level 2
Dues: Current

Governance Membership Selection Criteria

The Governance Board and Selection Committee assess all applications against published standards. Each chapter has criteria tailored to its stakeholder group.

Criterion Applicable Chapter(s) Description
Business leadership experience in STI Corporate Professionals Demonstrated track record in science, technology, or innovation-driven industries
Demonstrated commitment to innovation All Chapters Active investment in R&D, new products, digital transformation, or process improvement
BBBEE transformation track record Corporate Verifiable BBBEE scorecard and transformation initiatives aligned with national policy
Scalable growth potential Start-ups Clear business model, market traction, and capacity to scale beyond initial product
Research output and industry linkages Academic Published research, active industry partnerships, and contribution to skills development
Executive experience and networks Professionals Senior-level career in STI fields with professional networks and advisory capacity

Join the STI Business Forum

Become part of South Africa's premier science, technology, and innovation network. Apply for membership and unlock access to working groups, events, and the full digital platform.

Apply for Membership View Proposal