GETEC 2026: University Innovation Set to Take the Leap Towards Industrialisation

After four days of exhibitions, demonstrations and discussions centred on student innovation, the 8th edition of the Cameroon Student Genius and Talent Fair (GETEC) came to a close with a resolutely action-oriented outlook. More than a showcase of students’ know-how, the event now seeks to establish itself as a genuine bridge between the university and the business world.
The closing ceremony, chaired on behalf of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders, by the Secretary General of MINESUP, Professor Wilfred NYONGBET GABSA, brought together representatives of Members of Government, officials of the Ministry, stakeholders in the higher education ecosystem, partners and project holders who participated in this 8th edition.

Beyond the words of appreciation addressed to the various participants and partners, the message delivered by the Secretary General conveyed a clear requirement: student-developed projects should no longer be regarded as mere academic achievements. Addressing the project holders, he recalled that their innovations are “seeds of businesses, engines of growth and symbols of sovereignty.” This statement underscores the responsibility entrusted to them in building an economy increasingly founded on skills, innovation and local production.
From this perspective, GETEC should not be viewed as an end in itself, but rather as a beginning—a platform designed to move ideas from the university environment into the business world, and subsequently foster the emergence of genuine champions of the national economy. This orientation is fully consistent with the vision of an entrepreneurial university capable not only of training, but also of developing solutions, creating value and contributing to job creation.
The closing of this 8th edition was marked by a concrete announcement. Delivering the message of the Minister of State, the Secretary General announced that MINESUP will finance the creation of ten businesses for prototype developers. This measure reflects the Ministry’s determination to provide an operational follow-up to the innovations showcased and to support their maturation through to market entry.
Thus, at the close of this edition, GETEC is progressively taking on a new dimension. From a platform for showcasing student talent, it is consolidating its role as an instrument for promoting innovation and strengthening the connection between the university and the productive sector. This dynamic seeks to make student ingenuity a lever for economic sovereignty, in line with the orientations of the SND30.
The challenge for the forthcoming editions is therefore clear: to ensure that ideas conceived on university campuses find their place in the real economy and evolve into the businesses and solutions that Cameroon needs.
✍️CELCOM/MINESUP