South Africa Forum: University-Industry Engagement for Innovation and Impact

This panel discussion will focus on the different types of collaborations in place, key challenges and opportunities for effective and efficient university-industry engagement, as well as practical recommendations on how universities, government and industry could drive and enhance more effective UIEs and collaborations in South Africa.

The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to develop and refine their collaboration approaches. Encompassing perspectives from both university and industry, and drawing on years of research, case studies and global industry engagement benchmarking, this workshop will help you enhance your partnering approach by providing the tools and approaches to identify your success factors for developing relationships, and assess your current and potential engagement with external partners.

This session will share three inspirational case studies demonstrating UIE initiatives or programs of work from local institutions, demonstrating their challenges and key learnings for you to apply in your own contexts.

Participants can connect and network with other attendees in a series of interactive exercises aimed at exchanging insights, peer-to-peer learning and reflecting on the day’s activities.

This panel discussion will focus on the perspectives on the role of IP in university-industry engagements, challenges and opportunities. It will also explore the role of the SA IPR Act in enabling university-industry engagements.

This panel discussion will focus on the transformative power of collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation, fostering skill development, and shaping economic and social progress. It will also explore the drivers and desired outcomes and expectations of different stakeholders when it comes to impact.