While many universities stop at research and publication, Stellenbosch University (SU) has built a dynamic ecosystem that takes ideas from the lab bench to the launch pad, creating more than 30 thriving spin-out companies and Africa’s first university-focused venture capital fund in the process.

With a powerhouse model uniting research, business and technology, the university’s Innovation and Commercialisation Unit is turning academic research into global ventures, earning it the prestigious NSTF-South32 Award for Innovation through a Corporate Organisation.

Led by chief director Anita Nel, the unit comprises three key components: the Innovus Technology Transfer Office (TTO), which manages intellectual property (IP); the LaunchLab, which provides incubation services; and University of Stellenbosch Enterprises (USE), which forms and nurtures spin-out companies. This threefold approach ensures that promising innovations don’t fall through the cracks.

At the heart of their work is a philosophy summed up by Post-it Note team member Geoffrey Nicholson: “Research transforms money into knowledge. Innovation transforms knowledge into money.”

“Our job is to make innovation matter,” says Ravini Moodley, the director of the TTO. “South Africa is full of brilliant researchers. What we’ve built is a system to help them commercialise their ideas, protect their IP, and launch ventures that solve real-world problems.”

That system includes IP training, investor-readiness coaching, startup platforms and translational funding. Signature tools such as the Spin-Out Guide, Instant Startup Platform and Translational Fellow Programme help remove friction from the innovation pipeline and turn postgraduate research into market-ready ventures.

The results are compelling. CubeSpace manages more than 300 satellites globally, including systems endorsed by NASA. Stellenbosch Nanofibre Company partners with international firms such as Taiki USA to produce nanofiber-based medical and skincare products. Urobo Biotech converts bioplastic waste into high-value materials and Banzifeet creates anatomically designed school shoes based on paediatric foot research.

“What sets us apart is our systematic approach,” says Moodley. “A gap in the literature is not always a gap in the market. We help researchers understand both.”

Their impact goes beyond spin-outs. The unit conceptualised and raised the University Technology Fund (UTF), Africa’s first venture capital fund focused on university-born technologies. Fund 1 closed in 2024 after investing in six institutions. Fund 2 is already backing new ventures with an expanded scope that includes alumni-led startups.

Each spin-out is mapped to the United Nations sustainable development goals, and the university tracks metrics such as job creation, turnover and ecosystem growth. With a 69% spin-out survival rate over 26 years, which is well above global averages, they are proving that innovation can be both scalable and sustainable.

“Innovation means translating ideas into impact — commercial, societal, or environmental,” Moodley says. “We’re not just building companies. We’re building a culture of innovation that uplifts society and strengthens SA’s knowledge economy.”

For aspiring innovators, her advice is clear: “Start with curiosity, but align your innovation with a real-world need. Seek market feedback and don’t be afraid of difficult questions.”

Winning the NSTF-South32 Innovation Award is validation for what the unit has achieved. As Moodley puts it, their work goes beyond revenue: “It’s about building a sustainable innovation culture that uplifts society, contributes to economic development, and showcases what SA can offer the world when academic excellence meets entrepreneurial intent.”

Read the special Mail & Guardian supplement about all the NSTF-South32 Award winners.