Master of Science in Innovation Management and Intellectual Property Strategy
Universities, research institutes, ministries and large companies across the region are being asked to manage innovation portfolios and intellectual property estates without anyone trained to do it. This intensive programme prepares that ca...
Employment thesis
What this programme is designed to produce
Forward publishes the destination of every programme before you enrol. If the thesis stops holding, the programme is reviewed and, where necessary, retired. Next review: 2031.
Roles
- Head of technology transfer or research commercialisation
- intellectual property strategy manager
- innovation director
- research office leader
- policy adviser on innovation systems
- licensing executive
- corporate research and development portfolio manager.
Employer types
- Universities and research institutes
- national innovation and research councils
- intellectual property offices
- corporate research and development and legal functions
- development organisations funding innovation
- law firms in strategy roles
- and consulting practices.
Target outcomes we hold ourselves to
- Senior institutional roles with growing demand as funders increasingly require commercialisation capability as a condition of grant.
Compulsory · The Forward Core
How the Core works →Every Forward programme, including this one, carries the same five cross-cutting requirements. They are graded, not optional.
- AI Fluency
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Ethics and African Context
- Human-Advantage Skills
- Enterprise
Includes 12 months paid work-integrated learning
Am I eligible?
Check yourself against the published requirements
7 questions written specifically for Master of Science in Innovation Management and Intellectual Property Strategy. Every answer is checked against a requirement Forward has published, and the result tells you which page that requirement comes from. Indicative only, the admissions office decides on your full file.
What is the highest qualification you hold?
Curriculum structure
The same degree, in both pathways
Every Forward programme is published in both pathways: Path One, the term plan of two six-month terms, and Path Two, the block sequence of twelve four-week blocks. Same competencies, same assessments, same award. Toggle to see this programme in each.
Path One term plan shown
Path One · The Term Model
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDC 501 | Applied Intelligence for Professionals Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| FDC 502 | Research Evidence and Method Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| BIV 510 | Innovation Management and Portfolio Strategy Both | 6 | 4-2-2 |
| BIV 511 | Advanced Intellectual Property Law and Strategy Both | 6 | 4-2-2 |
| BIV 512 | Technology Valuation and Deal Structuring Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| BIV 513 | Research Commercialisation Systems and Office Design Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDC 503 | Governance, Ethics and Leadership Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| BIV 520 | Licensing and Institutional Agreement Negotiation Performance | 5 | 1-0-8 |
| BIV 521 | Spin Outs, Equity and University Venture Policy Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| BIV 522 | Innovation Policy, Funding and National Systems Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| BIV 523 | Advanced Elective Objective | 4 | 3-2-0 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIV 530 | Applied Project: Institutional Commercialisation Commission Performance | 15 | 0-2-28 |
| BIV 531 | Access, Benefit Sharing and Public Interest Strategy Objective | 4 | 3-2-0 |
Total credit units: 72
Curriculum source
Forward University Curriculum Compendium
Assessment
Coursework + project + integrated exam
Work-integrated learning
12 months paid co-operative education
Your week at Forward
A typical week on Master of Science in Innovation Management and Intellectual Property Strategy
Path One, the Term Model: your own pace across a six-month term, one live session a week, short flexible lessons, and assessment on demand.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Curriculum explorer
Drill into the degree, step by step
Choose a study path, then a year, then a term or block, then a course. Credit totals add up as you go, and every course shows what comes before it and what it unlocks.
Step 1, choose a year
Step 2, choose a term
TERM 1 (SIX MONTHS) | FORMERLY SEMESTER 1
Year 1 · this step is worth 30 CU
Cumulative
30
Programme total
60
30 CU of 60 CU completed by the end of this step (50%)
Step 3, choose a course
Pick a course to see the detail
Credits, assessment, prerequisites and what each course unlocks later.
The twelve Forward capabilities
What this programme develops in you
Every Forward degree develops the same twelve cross-cutting capabilities. The profile below is the level this programme is designed to develop and verify by graduation, on the four-level scale in Part B2 of the Curriculum Compendium. Every claim above Level 2 is verified by someone other than the teaching lecturer.
- C1Intelligent Systems FluencyLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C2Quantitative and Evidential ReasoningLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C3Ethical and Contextual Judgement CriticalLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C4Communication and Persuasion CriticalLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C5Disciplinary MasteryLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C6Technical Production and CraftLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C7Problem Framing and Systems Thinking CriticalLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C8Collaboration and Multidisciplinary TeamingLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C9Enterprise, Value and Commercial Literacy CriticalLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C10Professional Conduct and Workplace PerformanceLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C11Learning to Learn and Adaptive CapacityLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C12Stewardship and Public ContributionLevel 3 of 4, Independent
Critical capabilities for this programme: Ethical and Contextual Judgement · Communication and Persuasion · Problem Framing and Systems Thinking · Enterprise, Value and Commercial Literacy. A graduate cannot pass out of this programme below the stated level on any capability marked critical.
Programme Learning Outcomes
What you will be able to do
Each outcome is assessed, and each is tagged with the Forward capabilities it is verified against.
- PLO 1Design and manage an innovation portfolio against strategic objectives.
- PLO 2Build an intellectual property strategy including protection, defence and licensing decisions.
- PLO 3Negotiate institutional research, licensing and collaboration agreements.
- PLO 4Value technology assets and structure commercialisation and spin out routes.
- PLO 5Design and lead a technology transfer or research commercialisation function.
- PLO 6Apply innovation policy, funding systems and public interest obligations.
Why this programme exists
Universities, research institutes, ministries and large companies across the region are being asked to manage innovation portfolios and intellectual property estates without anyone trained to do it. This intensive programme prepares that ca...
Admission requirements
A Bachelor's degree of at least Second Class Lower Division in science, engineering, law, business or a cognate discipline; professional experience in research, legal or innovation roles is an advantage and may be recognised under Part G3. Alternative pathways: Foundation Year, diploma entry with advanced standing, mature age entry and recognition of prior learning, all governed by Part A5 and Part G. Online applicants additionally complete the compulsory Digital Readiness orientation under Part D6.
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