The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is strengthening its position as a leading innovation-driven university, with an expanding intellectual property (IP) portfolio that reflects the institution’s commitment to transforming research into innovative solutions that benefit society, industry and the economy.
Between 2025 and 2026, the University’s Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Directorate reported 41 innovation disclosures to the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), reflecting a strengthening institutional culture of innovation and research translation. These disclosures span engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, environmental sustainability, digital technologies and smart systems, demonstrating the breadth of research excellence across the University.
The University’s expanding innovation portfolio includes 18 patent-related disclosures in process, nine South African provisional patent applications, eight registered designs, four trademark applications, two Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications and one European Patent Office (EPO) filing. Together, these milestones highlight DUT’s growing capacity to identify, protect and advance innovations with commercial and societal potential.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, said the growth of the University’s intellectual property portfolio reflects DUT’s strategic commitment to research excellence, innovation and societal impact. “Innovation is one of the defining pillars of a University of Technology. At DUT, we are committed to creating an environment where research generates tangible solutions that improve lives, strengthen industry and contribute to South Africa’s socio-economic development. The growth in our intellectual property portfolio demonstrates the creativity and ingenuity of our researchers, staff and students and reflects the University’s strategic commitment to transforming knowledge into impact.”
Professor Nemavhola emphasised that protecting intellectual property is critical to transforming research into meaningful innovation and enabling it to reach its full potential. “Protecting intellectual property is a critical step in the innovation journey. It ensures that the ideas emerging from our research are recognised, safeguarded and developed into technologies, products and services that can benefit society. I encourage all researchers, academics and students to work closely with the Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit to disclose their innovations and contribute to building a stronger culture of innovation at DUT.”
The Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Directorate plays a central role in supporting researchers and innovators throughout the innovation journey, from invention disclosure and intellectual property assessment to protection, commercialisation, industry engagement and spin-out development.
Acting Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation, Dr Pinkie Ntola, said the growth in DUT’s innovation portfolio reflects the University’s commitment to building a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
“We are encouraged by the significant growth in innovation disclosures, intellectual property protection and commercialisation activities at DUT. These achievements reflect a growing culture of innovation, with researchers increasingly recognising the importance of protecting their discoveries before publication and exploring opportunities to translate their research into products, services and technologies that benefit society.”
Professor Nemavhola said the Directorate continues to strengthen the systems that support researchers throughout the innovation journey.
“The Technology Transfer and Innovation Directorate plays a central role in supporting researchers and innovators throughout the innovation journey, from invention disclosure and intellectual property assessment to protection, commercialisation, industry engagement and spin-out development. Over the past few years, the Directorate has strengthened innovation support systems, expanded researcher awareness, increased industry collaborations and supported the development of technologies with real commercial and societal potential.”
“Our goal is to ensure that every promising innovation has the opportunity to move beyond the laboratory and create meaningful impact. Through continued engagement, capacity-building and strategic partnerships with industry, government and other universities, we are strengthening DUT’s innovation ecosystem, contributing to economic development, and positioning the University as a leader in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.”
To further strengthen this culture of innovation, DUT is rolling out the Innovation and Intellectual Property Growth Campaign, an institutional initiative designed to showcase the University’s growing innovation portfolio, recognise inventors and research teams, promote intellectual property awareness, and encourage staff and students to disclose new innovations through the TTI Directorate.
The campaign will include media features, inventor profiles, educational content on intellectual property, faculty engagement sessions, social media storytelling and the “Protect Before You Publish” initiative, which encourages researchers to protect potentially valuable intellectual property before placing it in the public domain.
DUT’s innovation ecosystem has also received significant national support. The TTI Directorate secured R4 428 909 in funding from the National Intellectual Property Management Office for the 2026 to 2028 period to strengthen intellectual property protection and evaluation, support pre-commercialisation activities, enhance industry collaboration and advance technologies towards commercialisation.
Aligned with DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy, the University’s innovation value chain guides ideas through every stage of development, from innovation disclosure and intellectual property protection to technology development, commercialisation and societal impact. Through this structured approach, DUT is creating an environment where research extends beyond academic publication to become protected intellectual property, industry partnerships and innovations that address real-world challenges.
As the University continues to strengthen its innovation ecosystem, researchers, academics and students are encouraged to engage with the Technology Transfer and Innovation Directorate to transform their ideas into protected innovations that can contribute to economic growth, improve lives and create lasting societal impact.
Pictured: DUT is strengthening its position as a leading innovation-driven university.
Tiyani Mboweni
