The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) proudly continues to deepen its mark on the global innovation landscape as a team of outstanding student innovators represents Zimbabwe at VivaTech 2026, Europe’s premier technology and startup exhibition currently underway in Paris, France.
Taking place from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th June 2026 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Hall 7), VivaTech brings together startups, investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the globe, providing an unparalleled platform for emerging technologies and groundbreaking solutions to gain international visibility.
The NUST team's innovative startup, called the Emergency Response Management System (ERMS), is the brainchild of Bridget Sibanda, a Masters Student in Computer Science, at NUST. Bridget is already a Multi-Award winner locally and internationally for various innovations including The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor's Award for the best female Innovative Project for Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Computer Science in 2025. Her idea was initially shortlisted among the country's top 16 startups by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. Following an impressive pitch presentation, her team earned a place in the highly competitive VivaTech 2026 Startup Preparation Bootcamp, hosted by the Management Training Bureau (MTB) in Harare, where participants received intensive mentorship and market-readiness training.
Team NUST’s hard work, ingenuity, and dedication ultimately secured them a coveted opportunity to represent Zimbabwe on one of the world's largest innovation stages, where they are currently showcasing their solution to global investors, industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers.
The ERMS was developed to address a critical challenge facing emergency services in Zimbabwe and many developing countries, such as, delays caused by inaccurate or incomplete location information during emergencies. In situations where every second can mean the difference between life and death, traditional emergency response systems often depend on callers verbally describing their location, resulting in delays that can cost lives and increase property damage. This innovation transforms emergency management through a technology-driven approach that reduces emergency dispatch times and improves response efficiency, thereby saving lives and minimising property damage during critical incidents.
As NUST continues to champion Education 5.0 through innovation, industrialisation, and problem-solving research, the success of the ERMS team demonstrates the immense potential of student-led innovation to address real-world challenges while creating solutions with global relevance. The NUST community proudly celebrates this remarkable achievement and wishes the team continued success as they fly both the NUST and Zimbabwean flags high on the international stage at VivaTech 2026.
Amhlophe, Makorokoto, Congratulations to our student scientists for demonstrating that Zimbabwean innovation can compete, collaborate, and thrive on the world stage.
