Frans J. Smit

Dr. Frans J. Smit began his academic career at the University of Pretoria, earning a B.Sc. in Biochemistry (2007) before completing his Honours and M.Sc. (cum laude, 2010) in Chemistry at North-West University (NWU). He obtained a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, focusing on chalcone derivatives for malaria treatment. As a postdoctoral fellow (2014–2017), he authored 16 publications on malaria, tuberculosis, and cancer therapeutics. After a brief industry hiatus (2018–2021), he returned to NWU (South Africa) as head of the Catalysis and Synthesis group. His current research focuses on developing next-generation surfactants for energy and cosmeceutical applications. He is the lead inventor of the SolaGro technology, an innovative luminescent polymer film that enhances photovoltaic efficiency by converting UV light into visible blue light using non-traditional intrinsic luminescent (NTIL) surfactants. This work has culminated in multiple PCT patent filings and has attracted national innovation funding through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). In 2023, he was awarded both the NWU Innovation Fellowship and a TIA Innovation Grant for his pioneering work in sustainable surfactant technologies.