{"id":41964,"date":"2026-08-25T13:49:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=41964"},"modified":"2026-08-25T13:49:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:49:51","slug":"from-ideas-to-impact-vut-empowers-women-to-protect-and-commercialise-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/from-ideas-to-impact-vut-empowers-women-to-protect-and-commercialise-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"From ideas to impact: VUT empowers women to protect and commercialise innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT\u2019s Technology Transfer Office brought women together to explore how ideas, research and creativity can be protected, commercialised and transformed into meaningful impact.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

25 August 2026 | Story by: Tshepiso Kaibe | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n VUT\u2019s Women\u2019s Dialogue on Intellectual Property empowered women to turn their ideas and creativity into protected, valuable and commercial opportunities.\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An idea may hold enormous promise, but without protection, knowledge and the right support, its value can easily be lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This message shaped the Vaal University of Technology\u2019s (VUT) Women\u2019s Dialogue on Intellectual Property, hosted by the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) on 20 August 2026 under the theme, \u201cEmpowering Women to Create, Protect and Commercialise\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and creatives, the dialogue encouraged women to move beyond generating ideas and consider how they can protect, own and derive value from their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Ayanda Noma, Executive Director for the TTO, emphasised that innovation is not confined to laboratories or a single discipline. It can emerge from unmet community needs, indigenous knowledge, creative practice or a student approaching a familiar problem differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged participants to view intellectual property (IP) as more than patents, trademarks and copyright. It is also a means of protecting the knowledge, research and creativity already present within communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This message came to life through the keynote address by Professor Moganedi Kgabo from the University of Limpopo, titled \u201cHer Ideas, Her Innovation, Her IP\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Kgabo\u2019s work with marula began with a fruit that formed part of everyday life in her childhood community. It later developed into doctoral research, innovation and intellectual property. Her story demonstrated that innovation does not always begin with something entirely new. Sometimes, it starts by recognising the value of knowledge that communities have carried for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained how an idea can be developed into \u201ca workable concept\u201d and eventually into intellectual property. Her work also recognises indigenous knowledge holders as contributors to innovation, connecting scientific research with community knowledge and the potential to improve livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Mercia Fynn from Adams & Adams focused on one of the most vulnerable stages of innovation: the period before an idea has been formally protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery innovation begins with an idea,\u201d she said, cautioning that an idea remains exposed while it exists only in someone\u2019s mind or notebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She urged researchers to approach the TTO before publishing, presenting or publicly discussing potentially protectable work. \u201cDisclose your idea to your TTO before you publish it, before you present it and certainly before you discuss it publicly,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Fynn added that intellectual property protection is not only about preventing the unauthorised use of an idea. It can also create opportunities for research funding, licensing, industry partnerships, spin-off companies and wider economic participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Palesa Mokoaleli, the dialogue revealed support she had not previously known was available to postgraduate researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was not aware of the rights I have to my intellectual property or the support available to me as a researcher,\u201d she said. \u201cThis was very informative, and I will be using the TTO\u2019s services for my research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Tseleng Mokhele, Photography Lecturer in VUT\u2019s Department of Visual Arts and Design, turned the spotlight towards creatives, who may focus on producing strong work without giving equal attention to contracts, ownership and commercial value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using photography and digital platforms as examples, she highlighted the importance of retaining ownership and understanding reproduction rights. She reminded participants that creative work can continue generating value long after it has been produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Martha Ikome, Intellectual Property Advisor and Acting Senior Manager in the TTO, described the office\u2019s work through three areas: education, protection and collaboration. She also positioned the TTO as a bridge between researchers and industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet us try to create research for impact,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, the dialogue invited women to ask more than, \u201cWhat can I create?\u201d It urged them to consider what their work is worth, who owns it and how far it can go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For researchers, artists and innovators, that shift from creation to ownership may be where meaningful empowerment begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch the full experience on Flickr <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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