Students at CPUT are poised to become national leaders in technology innovation.
This comes after students showcased their skills in the National Innovation Competition (NIC).
The competition sees tertiary students from across South Africa develop business plans that outline technology innovations.
This year CPUT students came up with a number of innovative ideas, ranging from keys that buzz in the dark to water purification systems.
The competition was launched in 2005 by the Innovation Fund, which is an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) aimed at driving innovative technology development programmes.
Speaking at the NIC awards ceremony, which took place on 13 October 2009 at the Cape Town campus, National coordinator of the competition, JP Kloppers said they were impressed with the entries.
Of the 20 applications, the top three ideas were selected for prizes.
Electrical Engineering students, Solomon Smit and Morne Roman, clinched first prize and walked away with R50 000.
Their plan outlined the development of a key match system, which would aid individuals to find the correct key when opening a door at night. The key match system would also prove beneficial to visually impaired individuals.
The second prize winners were Industrial Design student Micah Donnoli and Interior Design student Alika Dobie, who developed a water purification system that could be used in informal settlements.
Third prize winners were Business students Emang Mochwhanaesi and Percy Moila who developed a scanner calculator that is attached to shopping carts.
The scanner calculator allows shoppers to scan their own products and pay at the till without having to unpack the trolley.
Kloppers said even those who did not win must go ahead and develop their ideas.
With the local legs of the competition wrapped up, the winners of each tertiary institution will compete against their counterparts at the national round of the NIC.
The first prize is R300 000, which must be used to develop and commercialise the winner’s idea.
Prior to the national competition that takes place in March 2010, the winners will participate in an accelerator workshop.
“The idea is that they update and grow their business plan into a fuller and more robust plan,” said Kloppers.
Manager for Institutional Transformation, Social Cohesion and Diversity at CPUT, Geroge Mvalo, who is the chair of the institutional steering committee of the competition, said they were impressed with the calibre of students.
Mvalo said they recruited outside experts to scrutinise the plans and assist with selecting the winners.
He said the competition must be sustained by CPUT in order to promote entrepreneurship through innovative ideas.
By Candes Keating
Written by CPUT News
Email: