The Commercial / Business unit is responsible for promoting, managing and coordinating businesses, consultancies and investments to generate revenue for the University. Key focus arrears in which the unit in seeking to broaden the University resource base include:
- Business ventures – the unit is responsible for identifying, developing and commercialisation of business ventures. The unit investigates commercial value, nurture and implement commercial business opportunities as well as assist business units with business services such as preparation of business, operational & financial reports, plans and budgets
- Promoting Industrialization: the unit, working in collaboration with the technology management office and the licensing office, helps in advancing research outputs, innovations and inventions by developing start-ups or licensing technologies to industry. The unit further helps to protect commercial developments of inventions and creations by processing and safeguarding the relevant IP agreements as well as negotiating and managing patents, licenses and technology transfer to industry
- Consultancy – the unit helps in identifying and coordinating consultancies and training to ensure commercialization of skills and expertise in the University.
Business incubation centre – the unit promotes, nurtures and adds value to business start-ups through coordinating and managing the Business Incubation Centre activities which supports entrepreneurs from idea generation to product development to commercialization. The center provides knowledge, tools, space and networks that start-ups and entrepreneurs need to succeed and coordinates with various support systems including established entrepreneurs, science labs, workshops, workspaces and mentorship programs. The unit further helps in building enterprises skills and competences appropriate for management of business Units to enhance potential of business ventures.