Universities across Africa must evolve beyond traditional education and theoretical research, actively positioning themselves as engines of economic growth, entrepreneurship, and commercial innovation. This was the core message delivered by Noleen Singh of Stellenbosch University during her address at the MUT Research Colloquium on 5 November 2026.
Speaking on technology transfer and innovation underpinnings, Singh emphasized that higher education institutions hold the intellectual capital needed to diversify African economies away from traditional mining and oil sectors. “Universities in Africa can play a significant role in supporting entrepreneurship to become economic growth agents in the region,” Singh told delegates, highlighting how commercialising research can improve living standards, drive private sector development, and create jobs in the informal and formal economies.
Sharing institutional insights, Singh noted that Stellenbosch University, ranked among the top 300 universities globally and top three on the African continent, manages over 35,000 students and 4,000 staff. To bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial application, the university utilizes a dedicated technology transfer office.
Citing the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Singh defined technology transfer as the process of transferring scientific findings from research organisations to external partners for further development and commercialisation.
However, translating an academic discovery into a market-ready product is rarely straightforward. “As a researcher, your job is to make one of something, which is called a prototype,” Singh noted, referencing a guiding principle from MIT. “But to commercialise, you need to make thousands or millions of something. The practical reality of going from one to a thousand tends to be underestimated.”
Singh addressed the inherent cultural and operational friction that occurs when universities attempt to partner with private corporations. “Industry operates with an “urgency is money” mindset, wanting immediate solutions to market challenges. Conversely, universities are bound by academic cycles, often viewing problems through master’s or doctoral timelines spanning two to five years. “Also, academic institutions are risk-averse and driven by the dissemination of knowledge through public peer review and publishing. Companies, however, protect their core business secrets and intellectual property, restricting publication,” she said.
Singh said that to combat the risk of postgraduate students leaving with vital project know-how before commercialisation can occur, Stellenbosch University established translational fellowships. These provide small stipends, such as R350,000 for one year, to help recent graduates develop entrepreneurial skills, refine product-market fit, and launch spin-out companies.
According to Singh, with traditional state funding and student fee streams facing severe pressure, diversifying income through commissioned research, commercialisation, and intellectual property licensing has become essential. Singh pointed to key financial game-changers in South Africa. These are the University Technology Fund (UTF), which is a pioneering venture fund specifically tailored for university technologies, launched collaboratively by Stellenbosch University and UCT; and specialised incubators, which are initiatives like Stellenbosch’s LaunchLab and LaunchLab SiBio, a biotechnology incubator with dedicated lab facilities, to provide startups with mentorship, shared workspace, and access to seed capital.
Singh offered actionable guidance for academics looking to engage industry partners. “Protect your intellectual property. Always initiate preliminary discussions under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and formalise research contracts. Also craft a clear value proposition. Speak industry’s language. Keep messages simple, concise, and focused on how the technology solves a specific problem faster, cheaper, or better,” she said.
Singh also advised MUT staff to attend trade shows and conferences where industry is present, and be willing to talk about their research. And also explore evaluation licenses, exclusive or non-exclusive manufacturing agreements, and university spin-outs to turn laboratory breakthroughs into societal impact.