Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions play a crucial role in equipping individuals with the essential skills needed to drive industrial development in developing countries. Their significance is increasingly acknowledged, especially in the context of the Just Energy Transition and the shift towards a Green Economy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has highlighted this in its strategy, “Transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Successful Just Transitions.” In this evolving landscape, TVET institutions are expected to be at the forefront, providing the new and necessary skills that will enable a workforce capable of thriving in a green economy and fostering entrepreneurship to harness emerging market opportunities.

For TVET institutions to effectively contribute to technological advancement, it is imperative that their curricula align with the future skills required in various industries. This alignment ensures that TVET graduates are not only prepared to meet existing industry demands but are also equipped to innovate and create new opportunities as entrepreneurs. However, there remains a significant gap in research regarding the current state of innovation and entrepreneurship within TVET institutions, as well as the barriers they face. Expanding the role of TVET colleges within the National Systems of Innovation (NSI) could enhance their innovation capacities and facilitate greater collaboration and information sharing between TVETs and universities.

This study, a collaborative effort by the Department of Science and Innovation, Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, and the UNDP, undertakes an ecosystem mapping across ten dimensions of technology innovation entrepreneurship within the South African TVET system.The goal of the study is to assess the current state of innovation and entrepreneurship capacity in the TVET sector and identify potential opportunities to enhance the country’s economic competitiveness through technological innovation and entrepreneurial activities. The study employs an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach, focusing on ten critical factors: physical infrastructure, access to finance, institutions, entrepreneurial culture, talent, networks, intermediaries such as incubators, demand, leadership, and new knowledge, including research and development. A survey was distributed to all TVET colleges in South Africa, with a 68% response rate. The findings, organized around these ten factors, reveal the entrepreneurial and innovation capabilities and challenges faced by the participating TVET colleges. The insights from the study can guide the necessary support and changes needed to foster greater innovation and entrepreneurship within South African TVET institutions.