The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have jointly established a Research Chair in Smart Mobility, the first of its kind in South Africa. Prof. Marianne Vanderschuren, an expert in transport planning and engineering at the University of Cape Town, was selected to lead the initiative. The Chair will contribute to human capital development, the advancement of key areas in smart mobility and developing a clear plan for the translation of research into impact. The South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) was established in 2006 by the DSI (then Department of Science and Technology) and the NRF. Research Chairs build on existing research strengths and enhance emerging areas of strategic importance. They provide an enhanced training environment for students and postdoctoral fellows by exposing them to important research challenges and opportunities.