“VUT engages Professor Chux Gervase Iwu to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and new opportunities to strengthen the University’s entrepreneurial capacity.”
04 September 2026 | Story by: Manani Hlongwane | Picture: Supplied
2 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s growing innovation ecosystem has received a significant vote of confidence from one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurship scholars, who described the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation infrastructure as a “mine” of untapped opportunities.
On 1 September 2026, VUT welcomed Professor Chux Gervase Iwu from the University of the Western Cape, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation/National Research Foundation South African Research Chairs Initiative (DSTI/NRF SARChI) Chair in Entrepreneurship Education Challenges in the African Setting. The visit focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration in entrepreneurship education, innovation and strengthening the University’s entrepreneurial capacity.
During a tour of the University’s Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) facilities, Prof Iwu expressed admiration for the infrastructure and capabilities he encountered.
“You guys have a mine here,” he remarked, highlighting the potential he sees within VUT’s existing innovation ecosystem.
The engagement brought together VUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation, Professor Speech Nelana; Executive Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation, Mr Ayanda Noma; Director of the Innovation Centre, Mr Robert Malatsi; and Intellectual Property Manager, Mr Thabo Kgole.
Discussions centred on how VUT can leverage Prof Iwu’s expertise, experience and networks to strengthen entrepreneurship education and create more opportunities for students and staff to transform ideas, research and knowledge into practical solutions and sustainable ventures.
The visit also provided an opportunity to explore ways of connecting the University’s research and innovation assets more deliberately to industry needs, community challenges and economic opportunities.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the role of universities in driving meaningful societal impact. Prof Iwu encouraged a broader understanding of entrepreneurship, one that extends beyond commercial enterprise to include social entrepreneurship and community-centred innovation.
He emphasised the importance of equipping students to identify challenges within their communities and develop innovative solutions that create lasting value and positive social change.
Prof Iwu further noted that entrepreneurship should not be confined to business or technical fields alone. Instead, he highlighted the important role academics across all disciplines can play in cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and fostering a culture of innovation across the institution.
For VUT’s Technology Transfer and Innovation division, the visit represents an important step in building strategic partnerships that can advance the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation agenda while expanding opportunities for students, researchers and staff.
The engagement forms part of TTI’s ongoing efforts to establish relationships with leading experts and institutions that can help unlock the full potential of VUT’s innovation ecosystem and strengthen its contribution to economic and social development.