RAND WATER ANNUAL REPORT 2023

HOW WE CREATE VALUE

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL Our intellectual capital is derived from our institutional knowledge (both tangible and intangible) and memories that has been built over 120 years. This includes our intellectual property, human knowledge (skills and experience), research, innovation, patents, policies, and procedures in running our day-to-day operations. MANAGING OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY In managing its Intellectual Property (IP), Rand Water developed and adopted the IP Policy and Manual which seek to create a holistic, balanced and coordinated approach to the management of IP created within Rand Water and to further outline the duties of the employees in their engagements with third parties. The IP Policy provides for the appointment of the Chief IP Officer who is the Legal Services Manager, and IP Officers within each Business Unit to assist with the day-to-day management of IP within their area and for the establishment of an IP Management Committee to oversee all the activities relating to the protection and management of IP within Rand Water. The Policy further provides for the creation of IP Registers which are as follows: • IP Contracts Register: f or recording all salient details of contracts to which Rand Water is a party. • IP Identification Register: for recording all significant IP emanating from within Rand Water or acquired by Rand Water. • Freedom to Operate Register: for recording all IP owned by others, in respect of which Rand Water has established Freedom to Operate. • IP Disclosure Register: for recording all highly sensitive Confidential Information disclosed. How we Create Intellectual Properties Rand Water creates its Intellectual properties through undertaking research and development activities with institutions of higher learning. Strategic collaborations with research-based institutions and Universities locally and globally are key to mitigating Rand Water’s risk through research and development. This includes research through Professorial Chairs at selected Universities, which is a key method of collaborating with institutions of higher learning in terms of research. The outcome of the research provides direction and input. Research and Development are the forerunners to innovation and commercialisation of novel technologies in Rand Water. It is important to note that the scientists’ continued research collaborations with the University Chairs provides value for Rand Water. In this regard the Organic Chemistry Chair at the University of Pretoria, made strides in developments of emerging organic contaminants as well as assisting Rand Water with identifying possible organic contaminants that are of public concern and need monitoring.

137