Mr Jared McIntyre, wheelchair rugby (seated front row), Back row from left: Dr Kerry Faul, Head of NIPMO, Prof. Henk de Jager, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Ms Thamaray Govender, TIA, and Mr Teboho Steven Oupa Mohoje, Toyota Cheetahs and Springbok rugby player.

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) in partnership with the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Free State Development Corporation (FDC) joined hands in celebration of the World Intellectual Property Day to promote the role of Intellectual Property (IP) in the society.

The theme for this year- ‘reach for gold’, took a closer look into the world of sports and focused mainly on sporting heroes, and all the people around the world who are innovating to boost sports’ performance and its global appeal.

Prof. Henk de Jager, Vice-Chancellor and Principal said it is a privilege and honour for CUT to host the national event where World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated with many others across the world.

“This day is very important as we regard sport as a form of recreational exercise, but it is, in fact, a serious drive of transformation and social cohesion. It also explores how innovation; creativity and IP rights can protect and support the development of sport and its enjoyment across the world. It is also a critical and important driver for the economic development of our country, and that is why we have top players who have built their names and have changed the way we look at sports. They are no longer just names, but top brands on and off the field. They epitomise how sports have become a multibillion-rand industry that generates investment in players and facilities while employing millions of people who also entertain us.”

Prof. de Jager also spoke about how technology is bringing about innovative solutions to sport using artificial intelligence, which is embraced at CUT. “As a university, we focus on our core role to promote the innovation ecosystem, we have embraced entrepreneurship as a study stream for undergraduate learners to expose them to entrepreneurship. CUT remains committed to social and technological innovations for the betterment of society. If we are serious about addressing the social challenges in this country, we need to collaborate as role players, embrace the importance of IP in society and the role it should play in promoting the economic development. As universities, we have the responsibility to make a difference in the lives of the people and the only way to do it is to grow the economy.”