TIA and INSETA join forces to drive transformation and digital growth in insurance

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) have signed a new five-year partnership to help grow skills, innovation and opportunities in South Africa’s insurance sector. 

Signed in December 2025, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to make the sector more inclusive and to support youth, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. TIA is an agency of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). 

The MoU will help develop a future-ready workforce.  This includes developing skills that match the changing needs of the industry and giving support to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), startups and entrepreneurs who want to bring new ideas to the market. 

This is not the first time the organisations have teamed up. 

A previous project between TIA and INSETA resulted in 20 innovative solutions that addressed challenges brought on by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Covid-19 pandemic. The new MoU will expand these efforts to reach more people and create a bigger impact.

Key focus areas

The partnership is built around three main pillars:

1.  Supporting innovation and technology development
2.  Helping entrepreneurs and SMMEs access markets
3.  Developing new Insure Digital Hubs

These efforts will encourage collaboration across universities, TVET colleges and the private sector, helping more people turn ideas into real products and services.

A more coordinated approach

TIA Board Chairperson Loyiso Tyira said the MoU marks a positive step towards more coordinated and effective collaboration between government entities. He noted that while many programmes exist, they often operate separately and struggle to scale. Bringing skills development and innovation together will help drive inclusive growth. 

“This marks more than just a formal agreement. It reflects a maturing system where aligned mandates can drive innovation-led skills development and sector growth.” added Tyira 

The partnership follows the Quadruple Helix model, which encourages government, academia, industry and civil society to work together. It supports national priorities such as the National Development Plan and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan by helping tackle unemployment and digital exclusion. 

Who benefits from this partnership?

• Young people gaining future-ready digital and insurance skills.
• Entrepreneurs and tech-driven startups receiving innovation support.
• SMMEs accessing growth and market-entry opportunities.
• Students through university and TVET innovation initiatives.

For more information, visit www.tia.org.za or www.inseta.org.za