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13 July 2023
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Story André Damons
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Photo André Damons
Tebogo Machethe has recently been appointed Director for Innovation and Contracts in the Directorate of Research Development (DRD) at the University of the Free State (UFS).
The recently appointed Director for Innovation and Contracts in the Directorate of Research Development (DRD) at the University of the Free State (UFS) would like to see the university’s research outcome being adopted by industry and research output translating into commercial opportunities and more income.
Tebogo Machethe, who is experienced in managing intellectual property and commercialising technologies, amongst other
things, assumed his new role on 1 June and has felt right at home. He is looking forward to a good working relationship and environment with all the stakeholders.
“I would also like to see a huge drive wherein the commercialisation activities and income of the university from commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP) increases from the research been undertaken. We will also be intensifying the entrepreneurial
drive at the university with a view to creating more entrepreneurship opportunities and skills for researchers and students. This will prepare our graduates to venture into entrepreneurship once they are done with their studies,” says Machethe.
According to him, South Africa now needs research that responds to the needs of society and provides solutions to society’s problems.
Intellectual property, commercialising technologies, contracts
Before joining the UFS, Machethe had been a Senior Manager: Technology Transfer at the University of Johannesburg for the past six years. He also spent some time at CIPRO (currently known as Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) from 2004-2006 before joining Hahn & Hahn Inc as a Candidate patent attorney until late 2008. He then moved to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): Materials Science and Manufacturing business unit in the Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer office.
“Most of my duties revolved around managing intellectual property, commercialising technologies and drafting and managing contracts only related to IP and Technology Transfer. My current duties have expanded to all forms of contracts and also
involvement in grant funding and other forms of funding,” says Machethe.
He says as a research office, the DRD exists in an eco-system wherein there are different role players. Through different role players, there is always a convergence of thinking and approaches which when all put together, puts the institution on a
path to achieve the goals of the university.
Fun facts about Tebogo Machethe
- He grew up in a small village called Ga-Raphahlelo, in Sekgosese, Mopani district, Limpopo. He is married with three children.
- When he is not pre-occupied with office matters, he tries to spend as much time with his family. He loves reading, running and cycling, which he often does.
- He has lived for the last two decades in Pretoria and is finding the Free State winter challenging. “It feels personal,” he says.
Lottery grant will boost public art at UFS
2009-05-25
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Public art at the UFS will get a major boost with money made available by the National Lottery Board. Here are Dr Ivan van Rooyen, Director: UFS Marketing, Ms Nontombi Ntakakaze (Artists in School Project) and Mr Ben Botma (Head of Department: Fine Arts) at one of the existing works of art by Edoardo Villa on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar. |
Emerging and established artists will showcase their work in a comprehensive public sculpture project on the campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS). The aim is to create a greater understanding of cultural differences and promote the UFS vision of a truly multilingual, non-sexist, non-racial campus, says Dr Ivan van Rooyen, Director: UFS Marketing.
The National Lottery Board has approved a grant of R4,125 million in total for three major projects, one of which is the public sculpture project. The others are a Khoe-San Early Learning Centre pilot project in Heidedal, and a boost for the Artists in Schools project, which is already underway.
Dr Van Rooyen says one way of promoting the UFS vision is to create an alternative environment and provide visible, tangible symbols of change and transformation. This will enrich the educational and cultural experience of students and visitors to the campus by stimulating intercultural dialogue and providing a setting for historical dialogue between past and future.
The dream of the UFS is to inspire a sense of ownership of the campus of an open university, worthy of a democratic South Africa. “Therefore, a large-scale project of national significance has been conceptualised, where the development of infrastructure will involve the creation and acquisition of major South African art works for the long-term benefit of all South Africans,” Dr Van Rooyen says.
The public sculpture project will be implemented over the next few years. Artists will be commissioned as funds become available. The UFS will also consult extensively with local and national art museums with experience in the public art field. A wide spectrum of artists, especially artists from the black community, will be used.
Dr Van Rooyen says that many black artists have not had an opportunity to exhibit public sculptures because of prohibitive costs and the project will empower them to develop their skills. The project makes provision for both established and emerging artists to showcase their work.
The aim of the Khoe-San Early Learning Centre pilot project is to compile a curriculum that is sensitive to multiculturalism and multilingualism. The centre will be the first in the country and will respond to the need to promote and revitalise Khoe-San languages. Using arts and crafts and storytelling, as well as literacy, numeracy and life skills, children will learn to adapt to their environment and contribute to our diverse society. This centre will be a collaborative venture between the Heidedal community and the UFS.
Finally, the Artists in Schools project, which has been running successfully since 2004, will also receive a boost from the Lottery funding. Through a series of workshops that the Department of Fine Arts presents at schools, participants develop functional art products with a distinctive Free State character. These products are marketed and sold to benefit the artists, designers and craftspeople.
Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
25 May 2009
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