4 – 5 December @ Lagoon Beach, Cape Town
ABOUT THE EVENT
In the bustling coastal city of Cape Town, where towering skyscrapers blend seamlessly with ancient coral structures, the 5th season of the University-Industry Collaboration unfolds. For the uninitiated, this isn’t your average conference where you nod off during PowerPoint marathons. Oh no! Picture this: a vibrant mash-up of academics and industry titans plotting world-changing collaborations, lively debates on the finer points of research & development partnerships, game-changing insights, quirky workshops, and lightning networking sessions.
Expect a lineup of heavy-hitters from universities and industry titans from sectors like tech, renewable energy, AI and whatever’s hot in the innovation cauldron this year. The agenda? A delectable menu of keynotes on joint ventures, workshops on tech transfer (because who doesn’t love turning lab experiments into billion-rand startups?), and panel discussions dissecting the thorny art of intellectual property sharing.
You’ll also learn about the messier side of collaborations: the funding disputes, the cultural clashes, the occasional ego. But that’s part of the magic. We don’t just celebrate success, but help you navigate the chaos of bringing big ideas to life. Academia and industry are like estranged cousins at a family reunion. One speaks in peer-reviewed journals, insisting on rigorous methodology; the other speaks in financial performance and market impact, racing against deadlines. Yet, when these two meet, sparks fly—sparks that ignite patents, startups, internships, and occasionally even Nobel prizes.
Why wouldn’t you want front-row seats to that?
Dr Matthew Suttor
Dr. Joanne van Harmelen
Dr. Natascha Eckert
Molise Mokhadinyana
Ravini Moodley
Dr Anitha Ramsuran
Dr. Hamilton Mphidi
Helin Backman Kartal
Jacquelene Friedenthal
June-Rose Ncobo
Dr Edwell Gumbo
Dr Nhlanhla Msomi
Dr Kaven Naidoo
Thara Pillai
Prof Grant Sieff
Karen Eksteen
Maagatha Kalavadakken
Prof Johannes Cronje
DAY ONE: THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER
Registration & Morning Mingle
Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Circling back on the Triple Helix phenomenon…how university led Innovation can drive industrialisation
Dr Nhlanhla Msomi
The Art of Perfecting the Pitch: Winning Over the Industry Research Funders
Jacquelene Friedenthal
Karen Eksteen Wilsenach
Coffee/Tea Break
Building Studentpreneurs and Research Commercialisation Pathways
Dr Edwell Gumbo
Everything is Connected: How students became Builders and an Informal Dweller Became an Architect
Prof Johannes Cronje
This presentation provides a practical and legal overview of trade secret protection in South Africa. It explores the definition, legal framework, and enforcement of trade secrets, with a focus on managing confidential information in the workplace and in commercial relationships. Through case law and real-world examples, participants will gain insights into best practices for identifying, safeguarding, and leveraging trade secrets as valuable business assets.
Dr Joanne van Harmelen
Networking Lunch
CASE STUDY Craftmanship of Fine Art? Confessions of a Boundary Spanner between Industry and Academia
Dr Natascha Eckert
Mid-Afternoon Break
I AM ALAN TURING: Opera, AI, and Industry Partnerships in Creative Innovation
Dr Matthew Suttor
Reflections & Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
DAY TWO: FRIDAY, 5 DECEMBER
Registration & Morning Mingle
Chair’s Opening Remarks
This presentation unpacks actionable strate gies for turning intellectual property (IP) into tangible commercial value. It will examine effective IP asset management, licensing approaches, spin-outs, joint ventures, and innovative models. Participants will also gain clarity on regulatory requirements, due diligence processes, and how open innovation can accelerate real-world impact. Designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders, this session equips you with the insights needed to move ideas confidently from concept to market.
Dr Molise Mokhadinyana
Surviving and Thriving in a World of Disruption and Transformation: Sharpening your Strategic Radar
Prof Grant Sieff
Coffee/Tea Break
The Case of CRISPR Cas9 -What can we learn about technology commercialization?
Ravini Moodley
Networking Lunch
- Collaborative initiative across Yale (Center for Collaborative Arts and Media, School of Public Health, School of the Environment, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology, and Department of Music), Harvard University (Harvard Forest), and Music Haven (a music program for public schools) - Ecological data (bird migration, flux towers, rainfall) transformed into music and performance through AI-driven data mapping
- Software development advanced in collaboration with leading startup technologists
- Artistic and educational strategies connecting scientists, artists, and schools
Dr Matthew Suttor
Mid-Afternoon Break
Recap & Chairperson’s Closing Remarks