The University of Johannesburg’s Technology Transfer Office (UJ TTO), in partnership with Kisch IP and UJ Sport, marked World Intellectual Property Day on 22 April 2026 with a dynamic, student-focused event at the Auckland Park Student Centre Lawns.
Bringing together intellectual property (IP) experts, sports leaders and students, the programme combined practical insight with hands-on experience — demonstrating how IP shapes innovation across the sports industry, from elite performance technologies to athlete branding and digital platforms.
From strategy to real-world application
Opening the event, Professor Barwa Kanyane, Executive Director of Research Support, highlighted intellectual property as a key driver of competitiveness in South Africa’s innovation economy. He positioned sport as a powerful example of how technology, creativity and commercial value intersect.
The programme, led by UJ TTO Senior Manager for Technology Transfer Thabang Qumza, was intentionally designed to move beyond theory — linking IP strategy directly to real-world sporting contexts.
Understanding IP in modern sport
Patent attorneys from Kisch IP — Tim Laurens, Diseko Boikanyo and Dr Ella Cebisa Linganiso-Dziike — unpacked how intellectual property underpins innovation in sport.
Their session explored key areas including wearable technology, artificial intelligence in performance analysis, advanced materials in sports equipment, and developments in sports medicine. From smart apparel and biometric sensors to injury prediction systems and data-driven coaching tools, the discussion highlighted how rapidly sport is evolving through technology.
They also clarified how different forms of IP work together to protect these innovations. Patents safeguard technical inventions, designs protect the look and feel of products, and trademarks secure brand identity. Copyright applies to creative outputs such as broadcasts and content, while trade secrets protect proprietary processes and methods.
A central message was that effective IP strategy is rarely singular. In practice, sports innovations rely on layered protection — combining multiple IP tools to secure both technical and commercial value.
Adding a governance perspective, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) Vice President Lwandile Simelane highlighted the growing importance of athlete image rights and the commercial ecosystems built around sponsorship, endorsements and personal branding.
Innovation in action
UJ Sport translated these ideas into practice through a series of interactive activations that brought energy and engagement to the event.
Students took part in five-a-side football, a netball shooting challenge, e-sports, chess, and functional fitness sessions. Each activation illustrated how innovation shapes sport at every level — from equipment design and training methods to analytics, digital platforms and fan engagement.
The e-sports component, in particular, underscored the expanding role of IP in digital environments, including software development, game design, streaming technologies and competitive formats.
Participants competed for cash prizes across all activities, adding a competitive edge while reinforcing the link between performance, innovation and value creation.
Student innovation on display
The event also provided a platform for student entrepreneurship. A UJ UniPod exhibitor showcased her athleisure brand, Verde Athleisure, which focuses on garments made from bio-derived fibres as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based materials.
The concept reflects a growing trend at the intersection of sport, fashion and sustainability — and demonstrates how IP plays a role in protecting and commercialising environmentally conscious innovations.
In closing, UJ TTO Director Dr Hamilton Mphidi emphasised the natural alignment between sport and innovation. Both, he noted, are driven by problem-solving, creativity and the pursuit of performance.
He encouraged students to recognise the IP potential in their own ideas, pointing out that many sports innovations originate from practical challenges faced by athletes and coaches.
The event concluded with a networking session, allowing students to engage directly with IP professionals, sports administrators and UJ staff — extending conversations and building connections that support future innovation.
Why it matters
World Intellectual Property Day, observed globally on 26 April and led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), highlights the role of IP in supporting creativity and innovation. The 2026 theme, “IP in Sport,” reflects the sector’s growing economic, technological and cultural significance.
By connecting IP to the accessible and engaging context of sport, UJ’s event made a complex subject tangible — showing how ideas move from concept to application, and ultimately, to impact.
