UNIVEN Strengthens Innovation Through Commercialisation Training Workshop

The University of Venda hosted a Commercialisation Training Workshop from 27 to 28 October 2025 at the Student Parliament, bringing together researchers, innovators, and academic staff. The two-day event equipped participants with the knowledge and tools to turn scientific research into market-ready products. Covering topics such as technology readiness, product development, and market evaluation, the workshop formed part of the university’s drive to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and promote research-based entrepreneurship for economic and social impact.

Ms Makole Magoro, the Technology Transfer Coordinator at the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), delivered the opening and welcoming remarks for the Commercialisation Training Work-shop. In her address, she expressed her appreciation to all participants for attending and high-lighted the university’s commitment to research, innovation, and enterprise that serve the region, the country, and society at large. She emphasised that while the university has a strong tradition of academic excellence and research, true impact lies in the ability to translate this knowledge into practical solutions that create value beyond the laboratory. Ms Magoro noted that the institution currently holds around seventeen patents, underscoring the need to strengthen ef-forts in technology transfer and market application. She stressed that commercialisation is not a solitary pursuit but one that requires partnerships among universities, industry, communities, and funders. Encouraging participants to engage openly, ask questions, and build networks, she reminded them that the greatest innovations often emerge from collaboration and the breaking down of silos. Ms Magoro explained that the purpose of the workshop was to equip attendees with practical knowledge and skills in areas such as intellectual property management, value proposition development, market identification, and business modelling, all of which are vital for turning research outputs into viable commercial ventures.

She concluded by urging participants to approach the training with curiosity and enthusiasm, emphasising that by commercialising research effectively, the university community can gener-ate employment opportunities, strengthen the local economy, and ensure that the benefits of innovation flow back into society.

Dr Mlungiseleli Ganto, the Commercialisation Specialist at the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), presented an overview of the Commercialisation Training Workshop following Ms Magoro’s opening remarks. He emphasised the importance of translating the university’s strong research output into innovations and services that have real social and economic impact, noting that while the institution produces significant research and patents, commercialisation is a long and slow process. The purpose of the workshop, he explained, was to equip participants with the knowl-edge and practical tools necessary to transition research from concept to market, emphasising the importance of researchers considering commercial potential and market relevance when developing their proposals. He outlined that the training would cover topics such as intellectual property management, market development, business models, and regulatory frameworks, and encouraged participants to engage actively and collaborate across disciplines. Dr Ganto then introduced the facilitator, Dr Sandile Ncanana, outlining his extensive academic and profession-al background in chemical engineering, biotechnology, and business management, as well as his two decades of experience in research, innovation and technology commercialisation within both public and private sectors. He expressed confidence that under Dr Ncanana’s guidance, the workshop would provide valuable insights and practical strategies to help researchers convert their scientific outputs into viable, market-ready products and services that contribute to the university’s innovation ecosystem and broader societal development.

Dr Sandile Ncanana began his session by sharing his journey as both a scientist and entrepre-neur, explaining that his experience founding and managing technology-based businesses had shaped his belief in the power of science and innovation to drive economic growth and address pressing challenges such as unemployment and inequality. He presented an overview of scien-tific research outputs and introduced participants to key concepts in research and innovation management, including the classification of research as basic, applied, or experimental, as out-lined in the OECD’s Frascati Manual. He explained how each stage serves a distinct purpose, from generating new knowledge to solving practical problems and ultimately creating new prod-ucts or processes ready for the market.

Expanding on this, Dr Ncanana outlined the technology and product development lifecycle from concept to prototype and discussed the importance of understanding and applying technolo-gy readiness levels (TRLs) to assess a technology’s maturity, novelty, and market potential. He guided participants through exercises designed to help them identify where their research fits within the innovation pipeline and to appreciate how academic outputs can progress towards commercial viability. Throughout the session, he highlighted the significance of practical evalua-tion methods and performance metrics in determining a technology’s readiness for investment and market entry.

Dr Ncanana also spoke about the broader National System of Innovation, describing the interconnected roles of universities, government agencies, research councils, and industry in promoting technological advancement. While universities have traditionally focused on basic and applied research, he observed that many institutions are now expanding into experimental development and establishing spin-off companies to commercialise their research outputs. He concluded his presentation by encouraging collaboration, open dialogue, and the exchange of ideas, reminding participants that the workshop’s goal was not merely to deliver lectures but to facilitate mean-ingful discussions on how to convert research into sustainable commercial ventures that benefit both the institution and the broader community.

Dr Thivhusiwi Maureen Sikhitha, Senior Lecturer in Private Law from the Department of Mercan-tile and Private Law, Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, delivered a word of support at the commercialisation workshop. She highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary ap-proach, emphasising that translating scientific projects into viable businesses requires collaboration across law, business development, agriculture, and other fields.

Dr Sikhitha underscored the critical role of intellectual property, noting that creators must pro-tect their inventions, brands, software, and other outputs to ensure both personal and institu-tional benefits. She also proposed innovative ideas for addressing student mental health through university-supported tools, highlighting the need to safeguard the well-being of graduates, the University’s main deliverables.

Conveying Professor Ndlovu’s congratulations, she encouraged participants to continue pursu-ing commercialisation and transformative ideas that can positively impact society.

Fredda Makoto, OTT Technology Transfer Officer at UNIVEN, delivered the closing remarks and vote of thanks for the recent commercialisation training. She reflected on the programme’s suc-cess in equipping participants with practical tools and knowledge on research management, innovation, and commercialisation strategies, highlighting how these can be transformed into sustainable ventures.
Ms Makoto expressed gratitude to Dr Sandile Mcanana for his expert guidance and encourage-ment and acknowledged the ongoing support of the School of Law. She praised researchers, in-novators, and students for their active participation, urging them to apply their learnings to turn ideas and prototypes into tangible innovations that benefit communities and industries.

Special appreciation was extended to the UNIVEN Technology Transfer Office for organising the event and fostering an environment where innovation continues to thrive. Ms Makoto empha-sised the office’s commitment to supporting researchers and the wider community in intellectual property protection, commercialisation, collaboration, and market access.


Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811