The University of Venda (UNIVEN) has emerged as a key player in advancing Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) within South Africa’s higher education landscape. Its active participation at the Indigenous Knowledge-Based Technology Innovation Investment Summit in June 2026 underscores the institution’s commitment to bridging traditional wisdom with modern technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Context of the 2026 Summit and UNIVEN’s Strategic Involvement

Held from 2 to 4 June 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel’s OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, the summit was organised by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). Partner institutions included the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), the Innovation Hub, the University of Limpopo, North-West University, and UNIVEN. This platform brought together emerging scholars, innovators, investors, industry partners, and knowledge holders to explore how Indigenous Knowledge can drive technology development, job creation, and sustainable socio-economic progress across the country.

UNIVEN’s delegation comprised staff and students engaged in areas such as Indigenous health, agriculture, conservation, arts and culture, governance, African traditional medicine, and the digital application of IKS. Participants delivered research presentations, joined innovation dialogues, pitched business ideas, and networked with policymakers and funding bodies. The event emphasised practical pathways including intellectual property management, commercialisation, and technology transfer—skills essential for transforming community-held knowledge into scalable enterprises.

Key Contributions from UNIVEN Leadership and Researchers

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduate Studies, Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, represented UNIVEN as a hosting partner. He highlighted the erosion of traditional seed-saving practices in rural communities and stressed the urgent need to channel funding into IKS preservation and project development. Professor Netswera called for focused action rather than circular discussions, urging stakeholders to move decisively toward implementation.

Other UNIVEN voices included Dr Solomon Mabapa, who participated in a panel on growing the nutraceuticals and health infusions industries through IKS-based innovation. Dr Lutendo Mathomu contributed to discussions on scaling and industrialising the IKS sector via bio-nanotechnology and drug discovery approaches. Dr Takalani Dzaga facilitated pitching sessions, while Professor Vhonani Netshandama, Director of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation and Commercialisation, delivered closing remarks that reinforced ongoing institutional support for student and community projects.

Broader Higher Education Implications for South African Universities

UNIVEN’s showcase reflects a growing trend among South African universities to integrate IKS into curricula, research agendas, and community engagement mandates. Institutions such as the University of Limpopo and North-West University also featured prominently, demonstrating how regional universities in Limpopo and North West provinces are positioning themselves as hubs for culturally grounded innovation. This aligns with national priorities under the DSTI to foster inclusive economic growth that respects and benefits knowledge holders in rural and peri-urban areas.

For academics and administrators, the summit signals opportunities to develop interdisciplinary programmes that combine traditional knowledge with fields like biotechnology, digital humanities, and sustainable agriculture. PhD-track researchers can explore niches in IKS commercialisation, intellectual property frameworks tailored to communal ownership, and impact assessment methodologies that value both economic returns and cultural preservation.

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash

Entrepreneurship, Investment, and Regulatory Pathways Highlighted

A central theme was transforming IKS into viable businesses. Students and SMMEs pitched ideas ranging from health products to agricultural innovations. Investors present committed to follow-up visits, provided products undergo necessary regulatory approvals to ensure consumer safety. Compliance with bodies overseeing traditional medicines, food safety, and cosmetics emerged as a critical step before market entry.

Professor Netshandama emphasised the value of quarterly student meet-ups for practising pitching, selling, and trading skills. She advocated sustained momentum through webinars and stronger linkages between knowledge holders and entrepreneurs to ensure mutually beneficial relationships. These recommendations offer practical guidance for university career services and entrepreneurship centres seeking to support IKS ventures.

Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling IKS Integration

Despite enthusiasm, participants acknowledged hurdles such as limited seed funding for early-stage IKS projects, the need for better documentation of traditional practices, and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing with originating communities. The summit underscored that successful integration requires respectful partnerships that avoid extractive models.

Opportunities abound for South African higher education institutions to lead in policy advocacy, curriculum reform, and international collaborations. UNIVEN’s Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Heritage Studies, alongside its Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, provides models for embedding these themes across disciplines. Similar initiatives at peer institutions can accelerate national progress toward a knowledge economy that values both innovation and heritage.

Future Outlook for UNIVEN and the Sector

Building on the summit’s outcomes, UNIVEN plans continued support for IKS projects through its community engagement and innovation structures. The institution’s visibility at this DSTI-led event positions it well for future partnerships with industry and government agencies focused on technology transfer and inclusive development.

Looking ahead, South African universities are expected to expand IKS-focused research centres, postgraduate programmes, and incubation hubs. This trajectory supports broader goals of decolonising curricula while equipping graduates with skills to commercialise culturally rooted solutions in health, agriculture, and creative industries.

Actionable Insights for Academics and Administrators

University leaders can draw several lessons: prioritise dedicated funding streams for IKS projects; establish clear protocols for engaging knowledge holders; integrate IP education tailored to communal resources into postgraduate training; and foster cross-institutional networks similar to the DSTI partnership model. Researchers should consider collaborative proposals that link traditional knowledge with digital tools for documentation and scaling.

PhD candidates and early-career academics may find fertile ground in topics such as benefit-sharing agreements, regulatory harmonisation for traditional products, and impact metrics that capture cultural and economic value. Engaging with events like the 2026 summit provides networking avenues and visibility for emerging work.

Photo by Mitchell Griest on Unsplash

Conclusion: A Model for Culturally Grounded Innovation in Higher Education

UNIVEN’s prominent role at the Indigenous Knowledge-Based Technology Innovation Investment Summit illustrates how South African universities can serve as catalysts for integrating heritage with contemporary technology and enterprise. By showcasing research, facilitating student pitches, and contributing to policy dialogues, the institution advances both academic excellence and community impact. As the sector moves forward, sustained collaboration between universities, government bodies such as the DSTI, and knowledge holders will be essential to realising the full potential of IKS for national development.