SU receives global recognition for being an Outstanding Entrepreneurial and Engaged University

Stellenbosch University was celebrated at the University-Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) annual Conference in Amsterdam as runner-up for Outstanding Entrepreneurial and Engaged University based on the work done via Innovus, the Innovation and Commercialisation division of Stellenbosch University.

UIIN is dedicated to advancing the future of higher education institutions and supporting the global community of university-industry professionals.

"It was a wonderful privilege and great experience to participate in the UIIN's conference in Amsterdam in June this year and to celebrate the organisation's 10th birthday. It was a huge surprise and bonus to receive the runner-up prize," said Anita Nel, Chief Director: Innovation and Commercialisation of Stellenbosch University.

Nel delivered an address at the conference on Stellenbosch University as an Entrepreneurial University, which she coined "Just do it!". In her address, she showcased the entrepreneurship landscape that Innovus established to support and develop entrepreneurs at the institution. She introduced the four structures that support entrepreneurship at SU, namely the Innovus Technology Transfer Office, US Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, the wholly owned university company that holds the institution's shares in its group of companies, the SU LaunchLab and SUNCOM, the division focusing on the commercialisation of non-academic projects.  She also discussed the various initiatives offered through these structures to staff and students and demonstrated the many successes that the institution achieved through this platform.

"This recognition that Stellenbosch University received at a global conference that is dedicated to and attended by entrepreneurial universities, is very encouraging and inspires us to build further on this game changing strategy of our institution,” says Nel, who believes in celebrating and communicating successes and using case studies, such as SU's impressive list of companies, to building credibility.

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About the UIIN

The UIIN is dedicated to advancing the future of higher education institutions and supporting our global community of university-industry professionals. They conduct research, organise events and provide training and consultancy services to their community of 80+ organisational and 500+ individual members. See https://www.uiin.org/

A week has passed since we got together at the #UIINConf in Amsterdam, and we would like to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the top performers and changer-makers in the university-industry interaction, entrepreneurial & engaged universities and the future of higher education🎉.

We would like to congratulate all the winners and runner-ups in the following categories:

1) Outstanding Research:
Winner: "Will universities drive the future of innovation during COVID recovery?" - Tomas Coates Ulrichsen & Leonard Kelleher (University of Cambridge)

Runner-up: "The enablers and inhibitors of digital transformation within the microbusiness sector in Ireland"- John O'Shanahan (LeanBPI)

2) Outstanding Engagement Approach:
Winner: "Strategic partnering supports a diverse ecosystem to thrive at The Australian National University" - Lorena (Lori) Sciusco & Sejul Malde (The Australian National University)

Runner-up: "KTH Royal Institute of Technology strategic partnerships, the next steps. #KTHTogetherForImpact" - Johan Blaus (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

3) Outstanding Support Mechanism:
Winner: "University-industry partnership: The case of ASELSAN Academy" - Ali Emre Güleç, Ph.D. & Elif Aydogdu Dogru (Aselsan)

Runner-up: "Establishing a holistic strategic and organisational approach to the university's corporate relations" - Carlos Cardillo (University of Nevada, Reno)

4) Outstanding Entrepreneurial Education:
Winner: "Invest for entrepreneurial education" - Liisa Timonen, Marjo Nenonen & Jaana Tolkki (Invest University European Alliance & Karelia University of Applied Sciences)

Runner-up: "The endgame for entrepreneurship: Leveraging capitalism for good" - Joe Steensma & II Luscri (Washington University in St. Louis)

5) Outstanding Entrepreneurial & Engaged University:
Winner: "Taking the path less travelled: Swinburne’s next chapter" Pascale Quester (Swinburne University of Technology)

Runner-Up: "Just do it!" - Anita Nel, RTTP (Stellenbosch University)

Thank you once again for such an inspiring and fruitful conference, we hope to welcome you all next year.

University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN)

UIIN is an international leader on university-industry engagement, entrepreneurial & engaged universities and knowledge transfer. They are dedicated to advancing the future of higher education institutions and supporting their global community of university-industry professionals. They conduct research, organise events and provide training and consultancy services to their community of 80+ organisational and 500+ individual members.

It was a wonderful privilege and great experience to participate in the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) conference in Amsterdam and to celebrate the organisation's 10th birthday. It was a huge surprise and bonus to receive the runner-up prize for Outstanding Entrepreneurial & Engaged University based on the work we did at Stellenbosch University.