Stellenbosch University was celebrated at the University-Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) annual Conference in Amsterdam as runner-up for Outstanding Entrepreneurial and Engaged University based on the work done via Innovus, the Innovation and Commercialisation division of Stellenbosch University.
UIIN is dedicated to advancing the future of higher education institutions and supporting the global community of university-industry professionals.
“It was a wonderful privilege and great experience to participate in the UIIN’s conference in Amsterdam in June this year and to celebrate the organisation’s 10th birthday. It was a huge surprise and bonus to receive the runner-up prize,” said Anita Nel, Chief Director: Innovation and Commercialisation of Stellenbosch University.
Nel delivered an address at the conference on Stellenbosch University as an Entrepreneurial University, which she coined “Just do it!”. In her talk, she showcased the entrepreneurship landscape Innovus established to support and develop entrepreneurs at the institution. She introduced the four structures that support entrepreneurship at SU, namely the Innovus Technology Transfer Office, US Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, the wholly owned university company that holds the institution’s shares in its group of companies, the SU LaunchLab and SUNCOM, the division focusing on the commercialisation of non-academic projects. She also discussed the various initiatives offered through these structures to staff and students and demonstrated the many successes that the institution achieved through this platform.
“This recognition that Stellenbosch University received at a global conference that is dedicated to and attended by entrepreneurial universities is very encouraging and inspires us to build further on this game-changing strategy of our institution,” says Nel, who believes in celebrating and communicating successes and using case studies, such as SU’s impressive list of companies, to building credibility.
About the UIIN
The UIIN is dedicated to advancing the future of higher education institutions and supporting our global community of university-industry professionals. They conduct research, organise events and provide training and consultancy services to their community of 80+ organisational and 500+ individual members. See https://www.uiin.org/
