Programme Director, Ms Siphesihle Ngubo.
Dean of Students, Dr Clement Moreku.
Students’ Government and Development Manager, Mr Masiza Ngculu.
Moses Kotane Institute, Dr Simphiwe Buthelezi.
Mangosuthu University of Technology, Dr Mandla Hlengwane.
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is with great enthusiasm that the university has extended the invitation to us as the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). I must start by congratulating you, the Durban University of Technology, for including the Annual Student Leadership Week (SLW) in your calendar events, and that this year marks the second hosting of this student-directed event.
I preface with the above appreciation because universities are not just about the lecture room job towards academic development of our students, but it is about the entire university life; it is about extracurricular development, especially the cultivation of leadership whose consequences will show up in the post-university life as business leaders in the corporate, as public leaders in government and in non-profit institutional causes. Universities are a foundation for nurturing all streams of leadership that emerge later in life.
In this context, this week’s SLW is a crucial contribution to developing ethical leadership among students who aspire to outstanding leadership grounded in intellectual foundations. I say this because the country is now facing a scarcity of these types of leaders emerging in different environments of our socio-economic endeavours.
The theme under which today’s session is held is “The Future of Technology: Harnessing Innovation for a Better Tomorrow”.
The global landscape is being reshaped by extraordinary technological advancements. Understanding these trends is the first step toward leading in the world they will create.
The Age of Artificial Intelligence: We are moving beyond AI that only responds to commands, but towards AI that perceives, reasons, and acts autonomously. These AI models are already becoming our collaborative partners, optimising workflows from manufacturing to software development, and assisting in strategic financial decisions. This is not science fiction; it's happening now. The projections indicate that the agentic AI market is growing exponentially, redefining productivity and creating new industries.
Related to the above is the advent of Quantum Computers. Quantum computers are advancing from laboratory experiments to tools capable of solving problems that are currently intractable. They hold the key to accelerating the discovery of new materials and life-saving drugs, optimising complex global supply chains, and creating unbreakable encryption to secure our digital future. South Africa, through our Departmental STI Decadal Plan, recognises the strategic importance of such frontier technologies.
For South Africa, embracing these technologies is not optional; it is essential for our development, industrialisation, and a quest for a more inclusive society. Several core principles guide our approach:
Innovation for Industrialisation: Through initiatives like the DSTI Technology Stations Programme hosted at universities of technology, we are directly supporting local manufacturers and SMMEs. These platforms provide access to world-class facilities for prototyping and testing, ensuring that innovation is embedded directly into our industrial base, thereby strengthening competitiveness and creating sustainable jobs.
Bridging the Commercialisation Gap.
Universities develop numerous innovation prototypes each year that do not get disseminated into the economy. We must overcome the barrier of commercialisation. This is where the entrepreneurial spirit is needed—to transform brilliant ideas from the lab into products and services that solve real-world problems. The DSTI has various commercialisation support instruments, such as the following:
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Seed Fund.
This seed fund supports innovators at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Science Councils (SCs), and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in advancing their research outputs into prototypes and fundable ideas for commercialisation. It also enables innovators to de-risk research outputs for follow-on funding from TIA and/or other funders.
The Innovation Fund.
South Africa is driving innovation to attract private sector investment, create jobs, and enhance economic competitiveness.
Through targeted innovation funding programmes, the fund is empowering startups and SMMEs in the tech space to scale and succeed. Innovative startups and tech ecosystems are the backbone of economic growth and job creation. Yet, too many fail due to a lack of early-stage funding. The fund is designed to bridge the critical gap, accelerate the commercialisation of locally developed intellectual property, and drive growth by mitigating the risks associated with early-stage investments.
We are building a pipeline of sustainable, high-growth startups, ensuring that South African innovations compete on a global scale.
I would also like to inform you that, as the DSTI, we have the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO). This IP Office enables the identification, protection, utilisation, and commercialisation of intellectual property arising from publicly funded research and development. Through strategic guidance, regulatory oversight of specific IP transactions, financial incentives, targeted support for institutional offices of technology transfer, general IP advocacy and awareness initiatives, and legislative enforcement, NIPMO ensures that publicly funded IP contributes meaningfully to national development and advances South Africa’s knowledge economy. I want to invite you to make use of our services at NIPMO to protect your prototype IPs.
A few weeks ago, I was addressing the University of Johannesburg students’ innovation competition, run by their Technology Transfer Office (TTO). The winners then proceeded to compete in Brazil under the BRICS+ innovation competitions. The same issue in UJ arose, as here, regarding how to bring these innovative prototypes from universities into the economy through commercialisation. We need universities to come and work with us closely through TTOs to use NIPMO for their IPs and the Innovation Fund, but work together on commercialisation issues to diffuse these products to the economy.
The Call to Student Leadership: Shaping the Future Responsibly.
As the leaders of tomorrow, our role in this technological revolution is paramount. The future will demand more from them than just technical proficiency.
Cultivate Adaptive and Holistic Skills: Success will hinge on combining technical depth with domain knowledge and empathy. It is not just about building a system, but also about understanding who it benefits and why. Develop strong communication, problem-solving skills, and a genuine appreciation for business and social context.
As technologies like AI become more pervasive, we must prioritise responsible innovation. This means building systems with transparency, fairness, and accountability at their core, ensuring that technology amplifies human potential rather than replacing it.
The complex challenges of our time cannot be solved in isolation. The future belongs to those who can build purposeful partnerships across disciplines, industries, and borders. The synergy between human creativity and machine intelligence will unlock the most meaningful solutions.
Conclusion.
I take this opportunity to call on DUT to consider further elevating innovation, funding applied research, and its translation. The Western Cape is leading in innovation ecosystems, with Stellenbosch University as its biggest anchor, followed by Gauteng, where the University of Johannesburg plays a critical role. The question is: Which university in KZN is an anchor of innovation ecosystems and has a spinoff company to support innovation, helping the province to pivot? I present this challenge to you as DUT. It is this path that will set you on a successful course for achieving your 2030 Envision goals.
Thank you.
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