Mbabane – The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) UniPod project will adopt lessons from Malawi’s innovation hub model, with the Government prioritising technology transfer, intellectual property protection and industry partnerships as it prepares for the establishment of the facility.
This follows a benchmarking visit by a multi-sectoral Eswatini delegation to the UNDP-supported University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) in Blantyre, Malawi, held from July 27 to 29, 2026.
The delegation comprised representatives from UNESWA, the UNDP Eswatini Country Office, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of ICT and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
The visit was conducted under UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, with the delegation studying Malawi’s UniPod governance structure, funding arrangements and technology transfer systems to guide the rollout of a similar innovation ecosystem at UNESWA.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training said the exercise provided valuable lessons on the structures required for a successful university-based innovation hub.
He said engagements with UNDP Malawi, MUBAS leadership and the UniPod management team highlighted the importance of strong university leadership, multi-stakeholder participation and clear governance systems.
One of the key areas identified was the establishment of a Technology Transfer Office (TTO), which plays a role in protecting and commercialising innovations developed by students and academics.
The PS said MUBAS had shifted its approach from focusing only on academic publications to ensuring that research outputs are protected through intellectual property rights before being introduced to the market.
The delegation also noted that innovation solutions developed through the UniPod should respond to industry needs, requiring continuous collaboration between Government, universities and private sector players.
Following the findings of the mission, Government and university partners have outlined priority actions for the UNESWA UniPod rollout.
These include establishing a dedicated cross-functional task team to oversee the project and developing a governance structure for the facility.
The partners will also work towards setting up a functional Technology Transfer Office at UNESWA and conducting a 10-year review of dissertations and research outputs to identify innovations with commercial potential.
Other priorities include securing long-term financial support, exploring available regional equipment resources and ensuring that the UniPod accommodates participation from women, non-STEM disciplines and industry partners.
The Ministry said the university-based innovation hub has the potential to support youth entrepreneurship, technology development and economic opportunities by creating a platform where ideas can be transformed into practical solutions.
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