The 50 high school learners that attended the 2024 edition of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) SA Summer School on Intellectual Property (IP) and Transfer of Technology (TT) have had their lives changed forever. The learners were from five schools in KwaZulu-Natal. According to Dr Mandla Hlongwane, Deputy Director: Intellectual Property at the University’s Research directorate, and one of the organisers, the schools participated in the High School Innovation Challenge and won some prizes. The results of the competition were as follows: Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School, from west of Durban, took the first position and won R20 000. Mthwalume High School, from the south coast of the province, was second and won R15 000. In the third position was Nombika High School. This school from Ndwedwe, west of Durban, was given R10 000. Two Umlazi Township schools, Ndukwehle and Velabahleke, placed fourth, and were given R5 000 each.
Dr Hlongwane said for the technology transfer office, “this shows the commitment to fostering innovation, creativity, and problem-solving among these young minds. The event also serves as an invaluable platform to raise awareness about intellectual property, technology transfer, commercialisation, and innovation—concepts that will shape the future of these learners and their communities”. Further to this, learners were encouraged to be creators of technologies and not to be consumers.
The competition was part of the WIPO-SA Summer School on Intellectual Property (IP) and Transfer of Technology (TT) that MUT has been hosting since 25 November and is ending today. The Summer School is an initiative of WIPO, in collaboration with the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The aim of the Summer School is to develop skilled individuals in Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology Transfer (TT). The Summer School is a ten-day long programme where a series of professionals are invited to provide lessons on IP and TT.