In a bid to fuel innovative activities in the province, the four universities in the Western Cape have joined forces and expertise to offer a course in Technology Commercialisation.

The course is aimed at students, researchers and other individuals interested in taking their ideas and turning it into sellable products or services.

This ambitious joint venture is earmarked to become a permanent feature on the universities’ calendars, says CPUT’s Prof Gary Atkinson-Hope, Director of Technology Transfer and Industrial Linkages.

The course has received a stamp of approval from the Technology Innovation Agency, a body established by the government to stimulate technological innovation in order to improve economic growth.

Hope says the course, which will run over four weeks, will be presented by the country’s top experts in the technology and innovation fields.

The course will cover patenting and licensing technologies, industry and market research and provide steps on how to put together a full-proof business plan.

The first session will be presented at CPUT on Tuesday 23 July, with follow-up sessions taking place at the University of the Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University.

For Registration and Further Information visit www.entrepreneurwc.co.za

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

From manufacturing satellite components to food supplements, CPUT innovators are making their mark in industry.

The institution’s leading innovators recently shared their success stories at CPUT’s Innovation Fund Board meeting, held at the Bellville Campus.

The board was established in 2008 and is tasked with identifying research that can be commercialized and providing researchers with the funds needed to take their ideas one step further.

This year innovators from the French South African Institute of Technology, the Functional Foods Unit, the Biocatalysis and Technical Biology Research Group, the Flow Process Research Centre and the TIA Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory, showcased their innovative activities.

LIFT OFF: The TIA Adaptronics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory is manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles systems. They have also started a company

Of these units, several have registered patents while other has started new companies that manufacture and sell speciliased products, both locally and internationally.

Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Prof Gary Atkinson-Hope says the board was particularly impressed with the range of innovations presented and the exhibitions that were on display.

“In general, the technological specialisations and complexities of products presented demonstrated uniqueness with commercialisation prospects and some are already in the market place,” says Atkinson-Hope

This year several up and coming innovators also presented their innovative ideas to the board, with the hope of clinching funding which will help them to commericliase their products or register patents.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT’s Prof Gary Atkinson-Hope has been selected to sit on one of South Africa’s most prestigious advisory boards.

The Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Atkinson-Hope will form part of the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) Advisory Board.

Board members were appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.

The advisory board was established according to the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act 51 of 2008. The main function of the advisory board will be to advise NIMPO on its functions and duties.

NIPMO’s core function is to promote this Act, which governs the management and commercialisation of intellectual property that emanates from publicly financed research.  

The organisation is also responsible for helping higher education institutions to set up technology transfer offices.

Atkinson-Hope, who has been driving innovation at CPUT, says being part of the board will provide him with the opportunity to ensure that the country moves forward in terms of Intellectual Property.

“I am extremely honoured and humbled to be appointed to such a prestigious board,” says Atkinson-Hope.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT students are thinking big.

A wide range of bright ideas and products was showcased at this year’s CPUT Idea-Create Student Innovation Competition.

A beer keg that has been recycled into a barbeque, a snack dryer, a solar wonder cooker and a device to find lost items, are just some of the inventions thought out by students.

Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Prof Gary Atkinson-Hope says the competition is in its third year and is gaining popularity, with more than 70 students taking up this year’s challenge.

This year’s top innovators hailed from the Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Departments.

A group of Industrial Engineering students created The Braai Tool, a sleek-looking and versatile device that can be used as a bottle opener, tongs, fork and spatula.

“We are ecstatic and positive about the future of the braai tool,” says Sebastian Bosman, who represented the group at the prize giving.

The invention was part of the BTech Industrial Design R5k project, an official World Design Capital project that tasked students with producing and selling a product with the ultimate aim of earning R5000 or more.

Mechanical Engineering student, Musa Morgan, created a unique pair of briefs called Manhood Underwear. The briefs are designed for use by males after they are circumcised and assist in the healing process by protecting the area that was operated on.

“I feel honoured to have won this prize,” says Musa who plans to take his idea further and turn it into a business.

Musa, along with a group of four friends also scored another prize at the competition for the design of their website, Ad4All, an online classifieds for students.

Guest speaker at the event, entrepreneur Vuyisa Qubaka, encourage students to keep on innovating.

“The most successful entrepreneurs succeed because they are passionate,” he says.

“They moved from trying to do something to mastering it. Work on something because you are passionate about it.”

Deputy Director of Enterprise Development from the Western Cape Government, Deon Damons, whose office has funded many of CPUT’s innovative students, says the ideas unveiled at the competition have the potential to grow into big businesses.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.