The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Titus Mathe as its Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1 April 2026.
The appointment follows the successful conclusion of all governance processes and marks a pivotal milestone as the Agency advances and accelerates the implementation of its TIA 2.0 – a strategic repositioning aimed at strengthening South Africa’s innovation pipeline, enhancing commercialisation outcomes, and deepening the contribution of science, technology and innovation to inclusive economic growth.
Dr Mathe brings extensive leadership experience spanning industry, applied research, innovation system governance, and public-sector transformation. His career reflects a rare combination of technical depth, strategic leadership, and execution capabilities, underpinned by strong intergovernmental and public-private partnership experience. He has previously held senior leadership roles at Eskom, worked for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Sappi Saiccor, and SA Cyanamid, operating at the interface of research, projects, industrialisation, and large-scale systems delivery.
He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), where he has successfully repositioned the organisation to play a central role in national energy policy, international cooperation, and strategic programme delivery.
The Chairperson of the TIA Board Chair, Mr Loyiso Tyira, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Dr Mathe to lead the agency. We are confident that his depth of leadership, strategic insight, and systems-level understanding will lead TIA to its next phase. His proven ability to reposition public institutions, mobilise partnerships, and deliver impact aligns strongly with the national innovation, industrialisation, and inclusive growth agenda. We are confident that Dr Mathe’s appointment marks the beginning of an exciting and prosperous era for TIA as we embark on the new strategy TIA.2.0”
Dr Mathe holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from UNISA, a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, USA, and a National Diploma in Chemical Engineering from Mangosuthu University of Technology. He is registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Professional Engineer and is affiliated with several professional bodies and Universities, reinforcing his commitment to skills development, research excellence, and knowledge translation.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Mathe said: “TIA plays a critical role in de-risking innovation, unlocking value from publicly funded research, and translating research into viable products, companies, and industries that advance national development priorities, economic growth, and job creation. I am particularly excited about the TIA 2.0 strategy, which seeks to transform the Agency into a thought leader, orchestrator of South Africa’s innovation ecosystem, catalyst for research commercialisation, enterprise development, and national development outcomes.”
The TIA Board would like to express its appreciation to the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ismail Abdoola, for his leadership and stewardship during the transition period. Under his guidance, supported by the executive management team, the Agency has commenced with key strategic, organisational, and operational initiatives aligned to the TIA 2.0 strategy, ensuring continuity, stability, and momentum.
TIA looks forward to a new chapter of strengthened leadership, enhanced collaboration, and accelerated innovation outcomes as it continues to advance its mandate in support of inclusive economic growth and industrial development.