TUM ENERGISE Centre Launches in South Africa to Advance a Just Energy Transition

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) ENERGISE Centre was officially launched at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg on 14 September 2026, bringing together South African and German partners to advance research, education and innovation for a just energy transition.

ENERGISE, which stands for ENabling a Just Energy Transition through Renewable Energy, Governance and Innovative Sustainable Entrepreneurship, is a DAAD-funded African-German partnership connecting TUM with four South African universities: Wits, the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Venda (UNIVEN). The Centre aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research, postgraduate education and academic exchange while developing practical approaches to South Africa’s energy transition.

The launch and inaugural symposium, Co-Creating a Just Energy Transition, brought together representatives from academia, government and partner organisations to explore how research and collaboration can contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.

The DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg welcomed Lars Gerold from DAAD Headquarters in Bonn for the launch. His visit also provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues across the Wits and DAAD network, including Ayanda Mayeza and Anica Opperman from the DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg, Samia Chasi from the Wits Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships Office, and Rico Ehren, the new DAAD Lektor at Wits.

Through initiatives such as ENERGISE, DAAD continues to support international academic cooperation, capacity building and knowledge exchange between Germany and South Africa, creating opportunities for researchers, doctoral candidates and early-career academics to contribute to solutions for shared global challenges.

Learn more about ENERGISE: TUM ENERGISE Centre