Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Intellectual property is an important driver of human development and economic growth

26 April 2022 | Story André Damons and Ravini Moodley

World Intellectual Property Day, which is celebrated on 26 April since the year 2000, is an opportunity to focus on the nature of intellectual property (IP) as an important driver of human development and economic growth. This year, the theme is ‘Intellectual Property and Youth: Innovating for a better future’.

According to Ravini Moodley, Director of Innovation and Contracts in the Directorate Research Development at the University of the Free State (UFS), this is well aligned to the incredible work that the students and staff are doing in the department. Fantastic inventions and creative work are being developed at our university. These could be used in companies and society to create a better future indeed!

The UFS Technology Transfer Office (TTO) is based in the Directorate Research Development. We are here to support students and staff to transform their creations so that they can make economic, social, and environmental improvements.

“‘Intellectual property’ refers to creations of the mind, which include inventions, designs, literary and artistic works. Trademarks, which can be words or logos that help to build the brand of a company, are also considered intellectual property. There is a specific legal function dedicated to protecting intellectual property, because these are the intangible assets that many businesses use to generate their income,” says Moodley.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), established under the United Nations (UN), facilitates international dialogue and establishes processes for countries to co-operate on intellectual property rights. The WIPO has designated World Intellectual Property Day as 26 April since the year 2000.

At the TTO, we help students and staff to

understand how to protect the intellectual property they develop during their research;
investigate the commercial opportunities and possible routes to the market for their technologies;
ensure that the university has an accurate record of intellectual property developed by staff and students; and
ensure that part of the benefits of the intellectual property commercialised by the UFS are distributed to the inventors and innovators.

We will be using the week of 25 April 2022 to highlight some of the UFS patents and to provide more information on topics related to intellectual property and commercialisation. Over the next few months, we will also be building up our resources on the DRD webpage; so please watch that space.

You can also contact Ravini Moodley moodleyr5@ufs.ac.za or Prudence Clarke ClarkeP@ufs.ac.za for more information.

WATCH ABOVE: Celebrating World Intellectual Property Day

On 26 April every year, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity.

World IP Day 2022 – IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future – shines a light on how young inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs can use intellectual property (IP) rights to achieve their goals, generate income, create jobs, tackle local and global challenges, and support community and national development.

Check out Intellectual Property conversations with five UFS innovations. #WorldIPDay

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;	&amp;amp;nbsp;
WATCH: Intellectual Property - Intro	WATCH: Intellectual Property - Conversations About Physics

Related: KovsieInnovation

News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory

2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology. The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required. For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time. The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty). The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein.

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00. For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept