NUST Advances Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Capacity at WIPO Summer School

The Namibia University of Science and Technology participated in the 2025 WIPO South Africa Summer School on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, held from 24 November to 5 December 2025 at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban, South Africa. NUST was represented by Ms Valerie Garises, Director of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Dr Paulus Shigwedha, Innovation Process Developer.

Hosted by the MUT Technology Transfer Office in collaboration with national and international partners, the programme brought together emerging professionals to deepen their understanding of intellectual property and its role in enabling sustainable innovation. Over the two weeks, participants engaged in lectures, case studies and group activities covering patents, designs, trademarks, traditional knowledge, copyright, open access, valuation, commercialisation and the relevance of intellectual property in public health, the Sustainable Development Goals and global WIPO treaties.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms Garises noted that the programme provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange. She stated that it strengthened NUST’s ongoing efforts to advance institutional capacity in technology transfer and support innovation-driven development. Dr Shigwedha highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in building responsive and future-focused intellectual property ecosystems.

A key feature of the Summer School was the High School Innovation Challenge, where Ms Garises served as a judge. Learners from five Durban schools presented solutions to real-world problems, with Sidelile High School emerging as the overall winner for an innovative child safety concept. The initiative demonstrated the value of early intellectual property awareness in nurturing future inventors and entrepreneurs.

NUST’s participation affirms the University’s commitment to expanding intellectual property education, advancing regional partnerships and strengthening pathways for commercialisation. Insights gained from the programme will inform efforts to enhance accelerator programmes, postgraduate innovation initiatives and inclusive technology transfer activities that support national and regional development goals.