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.