Schneider Electric South Africa, a global energy technology leader, has walked away with the Skills Development and Future Talent Award at the recent Team France Business Excellence Awards 2026, held in Johannesburg, and hosted by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI).

The award recognised the impact of Schneider Electric’s Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge which has, over the last two years, reached more than 24,600 young people across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria, including close to 4,000 in South Africa.

Funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation through its Youth Education and Entrepreneurship initiative and implemented by NGO partner, Enactus, the Battery Innovation Challenge continues to demonstrate how collaboration, practical learning and locally driven innovation can help young people develop the capabilities to address real-world energy and sustainability challenges.

The Skills Development and Future Talent Award recognises an organisation’s measurable impact, strategic partnerships and a commitment to developing future talent.  In turn, the award reaffirms Schneider Electric commitment to locally driven initiatives that play an important role in advancing youth development while supporting broader sustainability ambitions.

“It is such a wonderful acknowledgment of an initiative that means a great deal to us.  Together with our implementation partner, Enactus we have managed to reach thousands of young people, sparking innovation and entrepreneurship that that can extend well into the future.  We are truly grateful to F’SACCI for this tremendous accolade,” says Carina van Zyl, Schneider Electric Foundation Delegate for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Battery Innovation Challenge was conceived by a South African Schneider Electric engineer in collaboration with the Corporate Citizenship department and provides the platform for young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges. 

For example, from South Africa, Airnergy & Tech Solutions have gone on to successfully commercialise their solution ElectroBoost300, a 300W portable power station, now on Takealot, providing reliable lithium-based storage for households, students, and small businesses.

The next Battery Innovation Challenge will be officially launched at a signing ceremony in Cape Town, coinciding with the One Young World Summit, being held from 3 to 6 November 2026.