At Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), innovation is not just encouraged — it is being built into the institution’s DNA. In his recent paper, “Driving Innovation and Commercialisation through Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Universities of Technology (UoTs)”, Dr Mandla Victor Hlongwane, Deputy Director of Technology Transfer in the Research Directorate, unpacked MUT’s bold journey in using innovation as a tool for both transformation and impact at the EWFC Nexus Summit in Hungary on 27 August 2025.
The central player in this journey is the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), which is tasked with guiding research outputs toward practical solutions that benefit communities, industries, and the broader economy. “The TTO focuses on translating the work of our researchers and students into real-world change in energy, agriculture, digital tech, and beyond”, said Dr Hlongwane.
His paper highlighted MUT’s steady rise as it gears to become an innovation hub in KwaZulu-Natal, with the TTO supporting patent applications, industry linkages, spinout companies, and student entrepreneurship. By connecting academic work with commercial potential, the University is bridging a gap that has long existed between knowledge generation and economic development.
Importantly, Dr Hlongwane points to MUT’s strategic approach — one that is intentionally inclusive, context-driven, and collaborative. Whether it is local SMMEs, government departments, or large industrial players, the University is actively building partnerships that will turn research into shared value.
Of course, challenges remain. Many Universities of Technology across the country struggle with underfunded innovation units, limited Intellectual Property (IP) awareness, and a shortage of early-stage investment. But MUT is tackling these head-on through innovation workshops, startup accelerators, and stronger internal processes to identify, protect, and scale high-potential ideas.
Dr Hlongwane said, “If universities like MUT are given the support they need, they can become powerful drivers of regional development. We have talent. We have technology. What we need are collaborative pathways to move from invention to impact,” he concluded.
As MUT continues to grow its innovation footprint, the call to industry, funders, and public sector partners is open: join us in co-creating the future where ideas born in township labs, engineering classrooms, and research centres fuel real-world progress.