The North-West University (NWU) recently hosted the media launch for the World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) celebrations in partnership with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).

WIPD is observed annually on 26 April to raise awareness of how patents, copyrights, trademarks and designs impact daily life. The theme of this year's campaign, "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity", is based on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which is a blueprint to create a better and more sustainable future for all.

The hybrid media launch on the Potchefstroom Campus was attended by representatives from partner organisations and featured various speakers who spoke about the WIPD and its objectives, and about the upcoming WIPD celebrations. The speakers included Prof Nomonde Maimela, executive manager for intellectual property at the CIPC, Adv Rory Voller, CIPC commissioner, Jetane Charseley from the NIPMO, Nontombi Maseko from the DTIC, Tebogo Seseng from the TIA, and Sabelo Ntshangase from the SEDA.

During the launch, Prof Jeffrey Mphahlele, the deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation at the NWU, said academic institutions should constantly explore mechanisms to support intellectual property (IP) creation.

He said the NWU’s new strategic plan for 2024 and beyond is emphatic about supporting and sustaining an ecosystem for the conducive creation of IP and commecialisation.

"The NWU has a long and proud history of intellectual property and technology commercialisation, and was one of the first universities in South Africa to establish a technology transfer office. We are continuously striving to improve our prospects of attracting funding, collaborators, commercialisation partners and licensees by enhancing our marketing of NWU IP, technologies and innovative research."

Following the launch of the WIPD celebrations there are also other festivities to look forward to. Specific events will take place on each of the NWU’s campuses – 25 April on the Mahikeng Campus, 26 April on the Potchefstroom Campus, with the date for festivities on the Vanderbijlpark Campus to be announced soon. For enquiries, please send an email to TechTransfer@nwu.ac.za.

Prof Jeffrey Mphahlele, the deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation at the NWU, addresses the audience.