To drive and develop these linkages and engagements, the University of KwaZulu- Natal has re-instituted an event which existed in the past, to forge closer collaboration between all regional partners in the KwaZulu-Natal region.

These engagements are termed “Town and Gown meetings” where people from academia, the private sector and government meet and mingle to exchange ideas and develop partnerships that will effect meaningful cooperation across the region. The first of these meetings was hosted by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 2 September 2015. The second will be hosted by the university early in 2016 and the objective is to make these Town and Gown meetings a regular feature on the eThekwini and Msunduzi calendars.

One of the key objectives of UKZN is to ensure that through these research and development engagements with the private sector, intellectual property that may emerge should be primarily retained with those entities best placed to exploit and develop intellectual property (IP) for commercial gain, namely the private sector. The university would prefer to only pursue minimal royalties on successful IP ventures to continue growing the research and development capacity and responsiveness within the institution.

The Durban Chamber strives to engage key stakeholders with the aim of gathering strategic information, ensuring we are in a position to advocate in greater strength on behalf of members. This aim is aligned with goal two and four of the Business Vision of the Chamber which was initiated to challenge the Business Community of eThekwini, to apply its collective mind to encourage local economic development.

• Goal Two: Institutional partnership and collaboration
• Goal Four: The alignment of skills development and education to the requirements of economic growth and job creation in the City.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal is therefore committed to work with all of its partners, government as well as the private sector, to ensure that the province of KwaZulu-Natal, its cities as well as the people of this province prosper. This means that we have to forge partnership that will drive and deliver on socioeconomic and technological innovations that can significantly increase the local job opportunities for the people from this region. The key message from UKZN to the KZN community and partners shared at the first Town and Gown meeting was that UKZN is open for business.”

Future Town and Gown meetings are scheduled for 15 March, 18 May and 10 July 2016. If you would like further information on this initiative, kindly get in contact with Sharmala Pillay.

pillays@durbanchamber.co.za