The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has concluded a successful two-day Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology Commercialisation (TC) colloquium that ended in Pretoria today
The session brought together international and local expert speakers in the field of IP and TC, including practitioners from technology transfer office, industry such as technology brokers, technology consultants, commercialisation specialists, IP Merchant Bank, venture capitalists, incubators and fund finders. High schools learners also participated in the colloquium.
While delivering her closing remarks, the Director of Innovation and Technology at the dtic, Ms Nontombi Maseko, described the session as a success in that it delivered its objective through a programme that was coherent and succinct.
“I can say with confidence that we have successfully delivered on the objective, and we have delved deep in terms of how do we protect IP, how do we exploit IP, and the measures that can be utilised for technology commercialisation, and the creation of new industries,” said Maseko.
She added that the programme was coherent and succinct in terms of the complete value chain of knowledge development until the product is in the market.
“We discussed in depth the international perspective on IP and commercialisation, and global landscape of IP rights and their role in economic growth and IP as a catalyst for sustainable innovation, on how IP rights drive sustainable industrial practices. The session also discussed empowering local innovators through IP education to build capacity for a sustainable industrial growth, IP enforcement initiatives and the utilisation of IP to drive economic and social impact. The discussions were inclusive and vibrant,” stated Maseko.
She said there were lessons to be learned. These include the ministerial and executive leadership and support in terms of limiting access to counterfeit goods into the country and driving stringent controls, as well as improvement of procurement regimens by State Owned Enterprises and government departments and their agencies of home grown technologies as some of the recommendations that come out of the session.
“Further engagements of public and private funders are needed to streamline funding mechanisms and provide non-financial support. National system of innovation players will collaborate in business development programmes offered by different organisation which will be extended to other departments to create a solid pipeline for funding in different organisations,” said Maseko.
Maseko also announced that the next edition of the colloquium will delve in locally developed technologies and local players so that their particular challenges are attended to and experts attending the colloquium will be relevant to them.
Media enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Cell: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
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