Research Seminar: Rodney Michael Genga

Catalyzing Africa's Technology Driven Industrial Economy: Materials Science and Innovation for a Digital and Sustainable Manufacturing Future

Rodney Michael Genga
Assistant Dean for Strategic Projects in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Abstract: Africa's industrial future hinges on its ability to harness advanced materials science, digital innovation, and sustainable manufacturing practices. This presentation reflects on over 15 years of research, innovation, and teaching at the nexus of materials science, digitalization, and industrial application, with a focus on catalysing Africa’s transition into a technology driven industrial economy. My work centers on the development, processing, and optimization of advanced materials, including cermets, cemented carbides (hardmetals), high entropy carbides, and strong metallic alloys for use in high-performance sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and mining. At the core of this research is the belief that materials are the foundation of industrial transformation. The tools, machines, and infrastructure that enable production collectively known as capital goods rely on engineered materials. Africa currently imports most of these goods, a gap that limits its ability to drive self-sustaining industrial growth. Through hardmetals composition manipulation synthesis optimisation (from sintering to additive manufacturing), surface engineering (material re-engineering through laser surface modification) and Machining Property Led Tailored Design (MPLTD) models, my research provides tangible pathways for local production of industrial tooling critical to building a modern manufacturing base. However, innovation must also be responsive, responsible, and reliable. This talk also highlights how circular manufacturing principles, (i) responsible sourcing, (ii) recycling, (iii) material diversification, (iv) technological advancements, and (v) stakeholder collaboration are embedded across the research pipeline. Digitization further amplifies this impact, enabling precision, flexibility, and accessibility in manufacturing systems, and scaling Africa’s participation in the 4th and 5th Industrial age. Finally, the talk reflects the importance of education and the training of the next generation of African engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs, through initiatives like Center for Inclusive Digitial Transformation Summer School, AfInMic, and digital learning programs that prepare talent for Africa's sustainable manufacturing future.

Bio: Rodney Genga is an associate professor of material science and manufacturing engineering, with over 15 years of research experience focused on advancing Africa's sustainable manufacturing future. His work lies at the intersection of materials science, industrial applications, and digital innovation, with specialisation in the development and optimisation of cemented carbides, cermets, high entropy carbides, and strong metallic alloys for the automotive, aerospace, and mining industries. Genga's research integrates advanced synthesis methods, including additive manufacturing and laser surface modification with data-driven models to engineer next-generation industrial tools. His notable contribution, the Machining Property Led Tailored Design (MPLTD) model, leverages over a decade of machining performance data to predict tool behaviour and reverse engineer high performance cutting materials. His research supports circular manufacturing by addressing raw material criticality through composition manipulation, sustainable processing, and end of life cycle optimisation. He currently collaborates with top international institutes such as BAM (Germany), RCMT and HiLASE (Czech Republic), and IKTS Fraunhofer. He serves as president of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa and co-founder of the Africa Inclusive Microscopy Network, which has trained over 4,000 postgraduate researchers from across the continent.

As the inaugural assistant dean for strategic projects in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Wits, Genga has led the design and coordination of strategic interdisciplinary research clusters (just energy transition, water resource management, and digital transformation), strengthened global partnerships through initiatives like the Afretec Network, General Electric Next Engineers Program, and the Center for the Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa Summer School program, and facilitated faculty innovation and entrepreneurship programming. In his capacity as director of the academic development unit, Genga has transformed teaching, learning and student support by implementing data-informed, inclusive systems that address academic, eco-social and psycho-social needs, impacting thousands of engineering and built environment students annually. He is also the recipient of the Wits Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award, the university's highest honor for teaching excellence. Genga's work embodies a unique blend of research excellence, strategic leadership, and inclusive education, positioning him as a driving force in shaping Africa’s transition into a digitally enabled and industrially empowered future.