The Durban University of Technology (DUT) will be hosting a hybrid launch of its newly named Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at DUT’s Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 04 November 2021 and will continue with a number of exciting virtual events as well on Friday, 05 November 2021, from 9h00-14h00.
The Centre will serve as an umbrella Centre for all entrepreneurial units within the DUT. This exciting launch will incorporate the unveiling of Innobiz plaque, an exhibition of DUT’s entrepreneurial activities, showcasing of hubs and student businesses, fashion show, a panel discussion with various industries both local and international, networking, gala dinner, student pitches, prizes, etc.
The physical event which will only be attended by a selected group of individuals will be held at Indumiso Campus Main Hall on Thursday, 04 November 2021. Other guests and partners of the University will join virtually. On the same day, the Centre will host the Student Entrepreneurship Awards Gala Dinner to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our Studentpreneurs at the Innobiz Midlands Campus, Indumiso Campus from 18h00 to 20h00.
Speaking about the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo thanked both the DUT Council for approving the establishment of the Centre and the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Thandwa Zizwe Mthembu, for ensuring that the University positions itself as a significant player in entrepreneurship both in words and in action.
“The Centre is just one of the many recommendations we are implementing from the outcomes of an institutional review of our innovation and entrepreneurial capacity done in 2019. It will provide a conduit for all entrepreneurs and innovators to learn, practice, experiment, innovate, design and set up their own start-ups with the support of mentors, while providing access to a network of experts and organisations/businesses,” noted Prof Moyo.
The external stakeholders of the Centre include; Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA), Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN-EDTEA), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Universities South Africa (USAf), Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), the UNEVOC Network of which DUT is a UNEVOC Centre within South Africa.
The main objectives of the launch are to:
- Commemorate the Global Entrepreneurship Month and mark a notable milestone with Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s alignment with ENVISION2030.
- Inform stakeholders about the role of the newly established Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- Provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to support the vision of the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and raise the level of stakeholder engagement.
- Raise awareness, enhance publicity and national exposure on the establishment of the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
- Share knowledge and information on the challenges in entrepreneurship and innovation, and opportunities for scaling up solutions through the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and its associated ecosystem.
- Showcase examples of DUT student and faculty led entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Strengthen networks and build a database of diverse and interested entrepreneurship and innovation stakeholders through inviting strategically targeted industry representatives.
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Pictured: DUT student entrepreneurs, Makaphile Khumalo and Nontobeko Mafu who are excited about the launch of the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Simangele Zuma
