SPU hosts first World Intellectual Property Day Workshop

Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Research Office hosted its first World Intellectual Property Day Awareness Workshop under the theme “Demystifying Intellectual Property” on 25 May 2023.

World Intellectual Property Day, held annually on 26 April, was celebrated in conjunction with an Intellectual Property Awareness workshop at SPU. The global campaign offers a unique opportunity to join others around the globe to celebrate inventors and creators around the world and to explore how Intellectual Property contributes value and drives the technological innovation that helps shape our world.

SPU’s Acting Director of Research, Dr Moeketsi Mosia welcomed guests at the event and extended his appreciation of the active innovation space.

The workshop which aims to boost awareness of Intellectual Property at the university included guest speakers Mr Mojalefa Khoza and Mr Tshepo Bambo from The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) who introduced the topic of the day and unpacked the different types of Intellectual Property available. Ms Lungelwa Kula from the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) further gave an insightful presentation on the Management of Intellectual Property from Publicly Financed Research and Development.

The workshop included a segment dedicated to celebrating Women in Research and Intellectual Property where Dr Glynnis Daries shared her insights towards making great impact in research. Manager for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Mrs Tharusha Naidoo-Maistry also gave an informative presentation on innovation. The event concluded with fun and games with participants to ensure their understanding and the importance of Intellectual Property.  

The global move towards digital transformation with rapid development in the Internet of Things (IoT), Technology Innovation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) propels SPU and the greater Northern Cape province to focus on the establishment of an office dedicated to Technology Transfer. This is aligned with SPU’s strategy for creating a culture of entrepreneurship and new thinking.

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