Sol Plaatje University hosted a vibrant World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) celebration on 5 May 2026 at the South Campus Multi-purpose Hall, bringing together students, academics, and industry stakeholders under the global theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Jose Frantz, who highlighted the global significance of WIP as an initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization. She emphasised the importance of recognising ideas as valuable assets and underscored the role of intellectual property in advancing creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Her remarks aligned closely with SPU’s Strategic Plan, which positions research, innovation and entrepreneurship as central pillars in advancing social and economic development in the Northern Cape and beyond. The Strategic Plan emphasises the University’s commitment to becoming “an innovation-oriented 21st Century institution” driven by research, knowledge creation and entrepreneurial thinking.
This was followed by an overview from Mr Kobamelo Phillips, who emphasised the importance of understanding and protecting intellectual property in today’s innovation-driven world. He encouraged students and aspiring entrepreneurs to become more aware of the value of their ideas and the opportunities that intellectual property protection can unlock.
A key highlight was a presentation by trademark attorney Ms Marcelle Samons from Adams and Adams, who demonstrated how intellectual property underpins the entire sports ecosystem. From branding and broadcasting to performance-enhancing technologies, she highlighted how IP enables both recognition and revenue generation.
The programme also featured compelling real-world insights. Entrepreneur Mr Vusi Ngobese shared his journey of building a digital mobility platform, offering a candid reflection on the realities of innovation. “It is always important to build, test, and pivot before you register your IP,” he advised, highlighting the importance of market validation in the innovation process.
In a similar vein, Professor Olihile Sebolai shared how a Master’s research project evolved into a patented diagnostic tool, demonstrating that even early-stage academic work can generate meaningful intellectual property when properly managed.
A highlight of the afternoon was the student video competition, where participants creatively unpacked the relationship between intellectual property and sport. Through engaging storytelling, students demonstrated how innovation drives the game beyond the field.
With contributions from organisations such as NIPMO and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the event also spotlighted funding and support opportunities available to emerging innovators.
The celebration concluded with closing remarks and a networking session, leaving attendees with a clear takeaway: ideas are powerful assets, and their protection is essential to unlocking innovation and economic growth.
SPU’s World IP Day 2026 celebration reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fostering a culture of creativity, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property awareness across its academic community.
