‘From Ideas to Impact’: A Defining Moment for Innovation at NUST
On Thursday, 31 July 2025, the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) officially unveiled its revitalised innovation ecosystem during a dynamic Innovation Day.
This landmark occasion marked the strategic transformation of the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII) into the NUST Innovation Hub (NUST-i), reaffirming the University’s role as a national leader in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Hosted at NUST-i in Windhoek, Innovation Day served as a platform to launch the new identity, showcase cutting-edge solutions, and nurture dialogue among students, academics, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and partners from across sectors. The event embodied the University’s ambition to translate research into practical outcomes while strengthening Namibia’s innovation landscape.
The renaming of NBII to NUST-i represents more than a rebrand. It captures the University’s institutional shift towards embedding innovation across academic programmes, research projects, and community engagement. The “i” in NUST-i symbolises innovation, impact, and individual, reflecting the belief that every student, researcher, and entrepreneur has a meaningful role to play in advancing development.
Guided by the theme ‘From Ideas to Impact’, the event programme featured contributions from institutional leaders, practitioners from the private sector, and innovation funders. Discussions centred on embedding entrepreneurship into the curriculum, protecting intellectual property, and unlocking finance for start-ups and research-driven ventures.
Exhibitions by student innovators, faculty teams, and start-up founders demonstrated how ideas can evolve into scalable solutions. From prototypes addressing healthcare access and environmental resilience to digital platforms and local enterprise models, the showcased work highlighted the diversity and ingenuity driving Namibia’s innovation journey.
In a compelling keynote address, businesswoman and social entrepreneur Hilda Basson-Namundjebo shared a powerful charge to attendees. “NUST is not just building an innovation hub. It is building a culture. A culture where ideas are nurtured, where young people are seen, and where impact is not a dream but a deliverable. Innovation is not the future. It is the now. And Namibia must lead with it,” she remarked. Her words echoed the collaborative and courageous spirit that defined the day.
Dr Anna Matros-Goreses, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships at NUST, reaffirmed the University’s long-term vision: “Our transformation is not cosmetic. We are not just refreshing a logo or rearranging office spaces. We are embedding innovation into the DNA of NUST, and every student who passes through our institution should leave a footprint in this space”.
Innovation Day forms part of the University’s broader vision to position NUST-i as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and human-centred development. By cultivating a vibrant innovation ecosystem, NUST aims to connect academic knowledge with entrepreneurial opportunity and to enable Namibians to lead in shaping solutions for the continent and the world.
The event was livestreamed for those who could not attend in person. A recording is available here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/171B7v3GW4/
