Encouraging entrepreneurship through innovation and knowing your IP rights

Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Research Office hosted an Intellectual Property (IP) and Entrepreneurship Awareness Workshop on 10 October 2024. This workshop aimed to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property rights, the various types of IP, and their practical implications for entrepreneurs and researchers. The workshop offered valuable insights into how IP can be protected, commercialised, and leveraged to foster innovation, encouraging participants to secure their creations for both personal and professional gain.

Director of Research, Prof Luvuyo Ntombana, welcomed students, staff, and guests, emphasising the workshop’s critical role in advancing SPU’s goals. He noted that entrepreneurship, particularly within the Northern Cape context, plays a vital role in building sustainable economic growth. The workshop supports SPU’s efforts to cultivate a culture of innovation by equipping students and staff with the knowledge to transform their ideas into commercially viable ventures.

Ms Monica Boland, Manager: Innovation and Technology Transfer, gave an overview of the workshop’s objectives, stressing the importance of legal protection for innovators. “SPU is committed to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, and understanding IP is essential in safeguarding ideas that can lead to transformative solutions,” she stated. Ms Boland highlighted several key themes participants would take away, including a comprehensive understanding of IP, practical strategies for protecting and managing intellectual property, and lessons from case studies that help avoid common pitfalls. This knowledge empowers attendees to innovate with confidence, knowing their ideas are well protected and ready for commercialisation.

Guest speakers included Ms Naomi Ngoasheng, Deputy Director at the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), who discussed the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Act and its objectives through NIPMO. She noted, “IP emanating from publicly funded research and development should be identified, protected, utilised, and commercialised for the benefit of all South Africans, whether socially, economically, or otherwise. The innovation and creativity of individuals must be acknowledged and rewarded.”

Mr Ian Van Zyl from Stellenbosch University highlighted the importance of technology transfer in turning research into marketable innovations. He emphasised the critical role of bridging the gap between academic knowledge creation and commercialisation, a key area where SPU is working to foster growth through its focus on entrepreneurship. Without IP protection, entrepreneurs risk their ideas being copied or their brands diluted, losing the market advantage their innovations create.

The Research Office extends its sincere thanks to the guest speakers for their invaluable contributions.

The workshop serves as a vital part of SPU’s commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit within its community, which is a key focus area for the University. Through events like these, SPU is inspiring future entrepreneurs and shaping a new generation of innovators who can drive the region’s economic development with creative and commercially viable solutions.

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