• Prof Tamiru Abiye – Professor: Hydrogeology Programme, School of GeoScience, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and also in the NSTF-Water Research Commission category*
•  Prof Omotayo Arotiba – Professor: Department (Dept) of Chemical Sciences; and Director: Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research, University of Johannesburg (UJ) and also in the NSTF-Water Research Commission category*
• Prof Marique Aucamp – Associate Professor: Pharmaceutics Dept, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape
• Dr Hayley Cawthra – Chief Scientist: Marine Geoscience, Geophysics and Remote Sensing Research, Council for Geoscience (CGS), Cape Town; and Research Associate: African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University
• Prof Michael Olawale Daramola – Professor and Head: Dept of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
• Dr Sharief Hendricks – Senior Lecturer: Division of Physiological Sciences , Dept of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Visiting Fellow: Leeds Beckett University, England
• Prof Wanda Markotter – Professor and Director: Centre for Viral Zoonoses; Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair: Infectious Diseases of Animals (Zoonoses); and Research Chair: People, Health and Places, Future Africa Institute, UP
• Dr Cameron Penn-Clarke – Scientist: Geo-Mapping, Minerals and Energy, CGS; and Honorary Research Associate: Evolutionary Studies Institute, Wits; and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF: Emerging Researcher category*
• Prof Theresa Rossouw – Professor: Dept of Immunology, UP

Prize sponsor: proSET (Professionals in SET), a sector of the NSTF representing professional bodies and learned societies.

• Prof Adéle da Veiga - Associate Professor: School of Computing, Information Systems Dept, College of Science, Engineering and Computing, University of South Africa (UNISA)
• Dr Tatenda Dalu – Lecturer: University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit; and Iso Lomso Fellow: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University (SU); and Honorary Research Associate: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda; and Young Affiliate: The World Academy of Science, UNESCO, Italy and also in the NSTF-Water Research Commission category*
• Dr Wynand Goosen – Lecturer (Wellcome Foundation): Animal Tuberculosis Research Group, DSI/NRF CoE for Biomedical TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SU
• Prof Pragashnie Govender – Associate Professor: Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Dr Ahmed Mukalazi Kalumba – Senior Lecturer, Head and Founder: Geospatial Application, Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Research Lab: Dept of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort Hare ; ); and also in the Green Economy category*
• Dr Banothile Makhubela – Senior Lecturer and Director: Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Dept of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg (UJ); and also in the Green Economy and the Special Annual Theme categories*
• Dr Emmanuel A Margolin – Director of Research and Development – Nant-SA; and previously: Post-doctoral Fellow: Antiviral Vaccine Development Group, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT); and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Amir Patel – Associate Professor: Dept of Electrical Engineering, UCT
• Dr Cameron Penn-Clarke – Scientist: Geo-Mapping, Minerals and Energy, Council for Geoscience; and Honorary Research Associate: Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF: Researcher category
• Dr Simone Richardson – Senior Scientist: National Institute for Communicable Diseases; Researcher: Wits (joint appointment)

• Prof Bhekie Brilliance Mamba – Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa (UNISA)
• Prof Bob Pattinson – Emeritus Professor, University of Pretoria (UP) Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Healthcare Strategies, UP; and SAMRC Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit; and also in the Lifetime category
• Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela – CEO: SA Health Products Regulatory Authority
• Prof Fatima Suleman – Director: World Health Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Evidence Based Practice, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Sponsored by Eskom since 2003

• Prof Evans M N Chirwa – Professor; and Rand Water Research Chair: Water Utilisation, Department (Dept) of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the NSTF-Water Research Commission category*
• Prof Michael Olawale Daramola – Professor and Head: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, UP; and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher category*
• Prof Nonhlangabezo (Bezo) Mabuba – Associate Professor, Deputy Head of the Department and Project Leader: Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Material and Processing Science, Dept of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg (UJ)
• Prof Oluwole D Makinde – Professor: Applied Mathematics and Computations, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University (SU); and also in the Special Annual Theme category*

• Prof Sehliselo (Selo) Ndlovu – Professor: Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair: Hydrometallurgy Sustainable Development, University of the Witwatersrand

• Prof Wellington Didibhuku Thwala – Research Professor: Dept of Civil Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa (UNISA); Past Director and SARChI Chair: Sustainable Construction Management and Leadership in the Built Environment
• Prof Marianne Vanderschuren – Professor: Transport Planning and Engineering; and Chair: DSI/NRF/Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) co-funded Smart Mobility Research; and Deputy Dean: Social Responsiveness and Transformation; and Dept of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Cape Town; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*

Sponsored by the WRC since 2017

• Prof Tamiru Abiye – Professor: Hydrogeology Programme, School of GeoScience, University of the Witwatersrand; and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher category*
• Prof Omotayo Arotiba – Professor: Department (Dept) of Chemical Sciences; and Director: Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research, University of Johannesburg and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher category*
• Prof Evans M N Chirwa – Professor; and Rand Water Research Chair: Water Utilisation, Department (Dept) of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development categories*
• Dr Tatenda Dalu – Lecturer: University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit; and Iso Lomso Fellow: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University (SU); and Honorary Research Associate: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda; and Young Affiliate: The World Academy of Science, UNESCO, Italy and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher category*
• Prof Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi – Professor, Honorary Research Associate Professor and Co-Director: Centre for Transformative and Agricultural Food Systems, University of KwaZulu-Natal

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Case Studies Project Team, “The use of waste materials in road construction project” – Project Leader and Principal Research Scientist and Research Group Leader: Mr Georges Mturi

• Dr Ahmed Mukalazi Kalumba – Senior Lecturer, Head and Founder: Geospatial Application, Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Research Lab: Dept of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort Hare; and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher category*

• Dr Banothile Makhubela – Senior Lecturer and Director: Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Dept of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg; and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher and the Special Annual Theme categories*

• Prof Guy F Midgley – Distinguished Professor; and Head: Global Change Biology Group; and Interim Director: School for Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University; and also in the Lifetime category*

• Prof Nigel C Bennett – Professor; and Chair: Department of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation South African Research Chairs Initiative, Mammal Behavioural Ecology and Physiology; and Austin Roberts Chair of Mammalogy, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South African National Survey on Research and Experimental Development Research Team – Team Leader: Dr Nazeem Mustapha

• Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa – Representing the seven Co-Founders: Dr Jinal Bhiman and Scientific Lead: Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response South Africa (GIISER-SA) and Prof Tulio de Oliveira, Professor: Bioinformatics, School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University

• Prof Lee Rusznyak – Associate Professor and Director: Legitimation Code Theory Hub, School of Education; and Principal Investigator: Teacher Choice in Action Project, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Dr Yves van de Peer – Full Professor: Ghent University, Belgium; and Full Part-time Professor, UP; and Full Part-time Professor, Nanjing Agricultural University, China

• Biopharming Research Unit, University of Cape Town (UCT) – Director: Prof Edward Rybicki; and Professor: Microbiology, Department (Dept) of Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT
• INOFID (Pty) Ltd – Founder and Research Leader: Prof Eric Amonsou, , Dept of Bio-technology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Science, DUT
• KZN Industrial Energy Efficient Training and Resource Centre (IEETRC) – Manager: Prof Ian J Lazarus; and Associate Professor: Department of Physics, DUT
• Mining Positron Emission Tomography Research Group (MinPET) – Team Leader: Prof Simon Connell; and Dept of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, and also in the Special Annual Theme category*

Sponsored by the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) since 2019

• Diagnostic Aptamer Technologies Aminotek (DATA) Pty Ltd – Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer: Dr Ashley Pretorius; and Managing Director: DHS Healthcare (Pty) Ltd; and Financial Director: MVK Engineering CC; and Director: The Aminotek Group
• Osta Technologies (Pty) Ltd t/a Osta Bio Materials – Managing Director: Mr Dimitrios Markoulides
• Thermtron Scientific CC – Sponsor and Manager: Dr Jacobus (Kokkie) Swanepoel

• Dr Ron Beyers – Owner: Young Engineers and Scientists of Africa (YESA); and Part-Time Lecturer: Nelson Mandela University
• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor: Department (Dept) of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Dr Daniel Cunnama – Science Engagement Astronomer: South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
• Prof Francois A Engelbrecht – Director and Professor: Climatology; and Prof Coleen H Vogel – Professor: Sustainability, Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Burtram Fielding – Dean: Faculty of Natural Sciences; and Principal Investigator: Molecular Biology and Virology Research Laboratory, University of the Western Cape
• Prof Nokwanda “Nox” Makunga – Associate Professor: Dept of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University
• Vuwani Science Resource Centre – Team Leader: Dr Nnditshedzeni Eric Maluta; and Coordinator: Vuwani Science Resource Centre; and Head: Dept Physics, University of Venda; and Ordinary Member: International Union of Physics and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Commission-14 for Education Development

• CodeMakers – Executive Director: Dr Justin Yarrow
• Gariep Watch – Team Leader: Mr Fritz Bekker; and Technical Advisor and Co-Founder: Gariep Watch; and Managing Member: Clean Stream

• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist; and Associate Professor: Dept of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria; and also in the Communication category*
• Dr Banothile Makhubela – Senior Lecturer and Director: Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Dept of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg (UJ); and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher and in the Green Economy categories
• Prof Oluwole D Makinde – Professor: Applied Mathematics and Computations, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University (SU); and also the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
• Dr Emmanuel A Margolin – Director of Research and Development – Molecular Farming, Nant-SA; previously Post-doctoral Fellow: Antiviral Vaccine Development Group, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT); and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher category*
• Mining Positron Emission Tomography Research Group (MinPET) – Team Leader: Prof Simon Connell, Dept of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UJ; and also in the Innovation: Corporate Organisation category*
• Prof Marianne Vanderschuren – Professor: Transport Planning and Engineering; Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Co-funded Smart Mobility Research; and Deputy Dean: Social Responsiveness and Transformation, Dept of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, UCT; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*