About this episode

The episode discusses bridging the gap between scientific discovery and marketable products with Ravini Moodley from Stellenbosch University’s Innovus.

Most people focus on the breakthrough, but there is a massive gap between a scientific discovery and a product that actually reaches the public. Today, we’re stepping into the "engine room" of one of Africa’s premier research institutions to see how that gap is bridged. My guest is Ravini Moodley, Director of the Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University’s Innovus. She has a background in microbiology and a Master’s in Technology and Innovation Management. She also has the ability to speak both the technical language of the scientist and the strategic language of the market. At Innovus, she leads a specialized team tasked with finding the "gems" buried within university research and polishing them for the real world. While the broader commercial strategy is set at the executive level, Ravini manages the ground-level pipeline that moves ideas from the lab bench to a functional spin-out. This role requires constant navigation between social impact and economic viability. While ensuring that complex science doesn't just sit on a shelf, but transforms into a solution that can survive a competitive global landscape. We discuss building a high-functioning TTO and why…

People in this episode

Guest: Ravini Moodley

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stellenbosch University, Innovus

Places: South Africa, Africa, MIT, Oxford

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