Research ⋅ Innovation ⋅ African Impact
Ideas born in Africa.
Built to change the world
NOVA is an intellectual engine for innovation – originating new models, frameworks, indices and applied ventures that move African scholarship into the world.
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Where innovation thrive
Ideas that change our world
What is NOVA?
RBS NOVA is a Fellow-led research and innovation platform designed to originate knowledge that is new, useful and built for real-world adoption.
We move beyond measuring publication volume. Our work produces named concepts, measurable indices, deployable tools, policy instruments and ventures that academia, industry, government and civil society can use.
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Novel
Originality treated as a measurable research expectation.
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Outcomes
Models, indices, frameworks and prototypes that advance knowledge.
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Ventures
Research moving into the world through pilots and partnerships.
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in Africa
Knowledge from Africa, for Africa, relevant to the world.
Innovation in action
Ideas become deployable ventures.
NOVA projects test scholarship in real contexts—building tools, prototypes and models with partners and communities.
Business-In-A-Box
A modular SME enablement platform for township and informal-economy entrepreneurs.
The Mahala Box
Low-cost digital access, learning resources and enterprise tools for underserved communities.
Governance Programme
A modular SME enablement platform for township and informal-economy entrepreneurs.
The NOVA Operating Model
Research that moves into the world.
Our dual-track approach balances academic excellence with applied innovation. Every idea is expected to become citable, measurable or deployable.
Research
Rigorous inquiry that generates new evidence and theory.
Innovation
Ideas transformed into models, tools and prototypes.
Applied Projects
Live projects that test theory in real settings.
Collaboration
Cross-cluster, industry and community partnerships.