Innovus Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University

Throwback to last Friday’s inspiring meet-up with Technology Transfer colleagues at LaunchLab and Innovus Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University during the Cape Town Tech Transfer Week! 🚀🤝 It was a great mix of familiar faces and new ones, including my new colleague Khulekani Khumalo, who recently joined the Innovus Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University 🙌. This experience reminded me of how vibrant and fast-growing this field is, with exciting opportunities for everyone involved🌱. I feel truly fortunate to work alongside exceptional people in this space, always ready to share their knowledge and insights 💡✨! Though I entered this field serendipitously, experiences like these reaffirm that we’re all here for a purpose 🔗. It’s a reminder that there are no accidents—only paths we’re meant to walk 🌍. Pursue your passions with relentless zeal, and may we all continue to grow together in this incredible journey 💪🌟! Ntiyiso Shabangu, Maimela Jimmy Mohale, Ntombiyenkosi Nkosi, Ravini Moodley, RTTP, Thabo Lebelo, Fred Matongo!

The Innovus Technology Transfer Office showcased a novel bioreactor at the16th International Congress on Yeasts (ICY2024). This key event for yeast research, where academics, industry scientists, and students gather to share breakthroughs in yeast biodiversity and biotechnology was hosted in Cape Town this year. The Membrane-based Bioreactor for Non-Contact Co-Culture allows microbial species to grow together without direct contact, thanks to a continuous, bidirectional flow system that promotes rapid metabolite and protein exchange. The system is perfect for designing ecosystem-driven processes and isolating valuable bio-products. This research tool is available for both academic collaborations and industrial partnerships. We are keen to work with research teams to determine which microbes are best suited to this system of co-culture. 🔍 Curious about what a research tool is? Research tools are assets developed during research, like reagents, software, and specialised devices, that accelerate innovation by making the research process simpler, faster or cheaper.   Connect with our TTO to share your research tools, to help drive greater impact. 📧 Contact Mashudu Nxumalo at mnxumalo@sun.ac.za for more info. Stellenbosch University | Mashudu Nxumalo #ICY2024 #YeastCongress #MembraneBioreactor #ResearchTools #UniversityInnovation #TechnologyTransfer #TTO #MakingInnovationMatter

Honoured to have been invited by Dr Rakesh Wahi, Co-Founder of the ABN Group and Founder of the Future of Education Summit, broadcast annually on CNBC Africa, to attend the prestigious 2024 All African Business Leaders Awards (AABLA). This inspiring event celebrated Africa's exceptional leaders who are driving impactful change across industries. Congratulations to Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, recognised as Philanthropist of the Year—his keynote message was profound: 'Faith and spirituality are the sources of positivity and hope. Nothing else can change the world but that.' It was also wonderful to reconnect with Anita Nel, RTTP, CEO of Innovus Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University, and learn about Innovus’s transformative impact on society through scientific achievements. Conversations like these remind us that innovation extends beyond discovery; it generates a ripple effect, creating meaningful, sustainable change that uplifts communities and inspires the next generation of thinkers. University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN's College of Law & Management Studies #AABLA2024

We’re excited to announce a fantastic addition to our team! 🙋♂️ Khulekani Khumalo joins us as a Technology Transfer Officer, bringing a strong background in biochemistry and experience in intellectual property analysis. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to support the commercialization of innovative research within the Life Sciences sector. Khulekani previously worked at Rand Water and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). He is dedicated to helping researchers navigate the complexities of technology transfer. He believes in actively engaging with our researchers to understand their work better and strengthen collaboration. Please join us in welcoming Khulekani to the Innovus family! Read more about his journey and aspirations in our latest article 👉 https://bit.ly/3BPAn0o #TechnologyTransfer #TechTransferTeam #TTO

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), has the potential to reshape our energy landscape. CSP doesn’t just capture sunlight - it harnesses it with precision by focusing solar rays using mirrors. This technology can generate heat to produce electricity around the clock ⚡💡 The innovation pipeline in this space is incredible, with new patents emerging for autonomous calibration, optical measurement, and more. Licensing these technologies means we’re one step closer to scalable, sustainable energy that could power cities worldwide. To enquire about licensing these technologies contact ivanzyl@sun.ac.za or visit https://sterg.sun.ac.za/ Stellenbosch University | Ian van Zyl #CSP #SolarPower #CleanEnergy #Patents #InnovationForGood #MakingInnovationMatter

🎥 Watch how Urobo Biotech's cutting-edge enzymes break down a commercial bioplastic bag into its original building blocks or “monomers,” which can then be fed back into the circular economy. This breakthrough technology is designed to work seamlessly in anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities, where, in an annexed reactor, the enzymes break down bioplastic materials and return the treated digestate for further anaerobic digestion. To find out more about this technology, visit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dKSnjxDr For more info about SU Spin-out companies ➡️➡️ https://lnkd.in/dh8vNY5B Stellenbosch University | LaunchLab #MakingInnovationMatter

Technology Spotlight: Resveratrol from Wine Waste 🍇   Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol compound found in grapes, berries and other fruits and nuts which provides anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to plants. This compound can be absorbed by the human body to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammation, chemotherapeutic, anti-carcinogenic and estrogenic properties. Research at Stellenbosch University has produced a patented efficient method for separating, purifying and recovering resveratrol from wine waste using an aqueous two-phase separation.   Key features: -         Valorization of winery by-products -         Organic and vegan resveratrol product produced -         High resveratrol recovery through aqueous two-phase separation -         Environmentally friendly separation using recyclable polymer and salt   💡Opportunity: We are seeking commercial partners interested in producing and using organically derived resveratrol in nutraceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. Connect with us to gain more from wine waste through this powerful polyphenol.   Want to know more about this patented technology? Email ltywakadi@sun.ac.za Stellenbosch University | Stellenbosch University - Department of Chemical Engineering | Litha Tywakadi | Ian van Zyl | Robert Pott   #Resveratrol #Polyphenol #WineWaste #WasteValorization #SeparationTechnology #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ResourceEfficiency #Innovation #InnovationforImpact #TechnologyTransfer #TTO #MakingInnovationMatter

Stellenbosch University student-preneurs named finalists in the Nedbank YouthX Awards🎉🚀 A massive shoutout to Desmond Mogodi and Brighton maharela from iWashCars, and Anokunda Mudzielwana, who will be introducing his latest venture, Taxic, a mobile app designed to modernise South Africa’s taxi industry, for being named the top 10 finalists in the Nedbank YouthX Awards! These talented entrepreneurs were also SU finalists in the EDHE Regional Competition. The teams will be heading to Johannesburg to pitch their innovative business ideas in an exciting 'shark tank' setup. As a testament to their hard work, each finalist will receive R25,000 just for making it to the Top 10 and the winner will be announced at YX2024 on October 12th. We are incredibly proud of you and will be cheering you on every step of the way! #LaunchLab #MatiePreneurs #Studentpreneurs #Entrepreneurship #NedbankYouthX #Entrepreneurship #Innovation

Today's TTO Forum was made extra special with a surprise acknowledgement of the Registered Tech Transfer Professionals (RTTP) who form part of the forum. Andrew Bailey, Doris Peters, RTTP, Ravini Moodley, RTTP, Nolene Singh, RTTP, Ian van Zyl and Marlin Fransman were awarded their gold RTTP badges by our Chief Director Anita Nel, RTTP 🎉🏅 Another highlight of the forum was a special presentation by the Western Cape Government's Tim Parle of Connected Business who discussed the growth for jobs strategy - a comprehensive, challenging and ambitious goal for the Western Cape to grow its economy by between 4 and 6% by 2035. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated! #TechTransferForum #TTO #Innovation

Opportunity for BioTech startups 🔬 Immobazyme and UVU Bio have partnered to host an exciting pitch competition aimed at boosting South Africa's biotech ecosystem. CATALYST 2024 offers startup an opportunity to gain prizes worth over R350,000 await the winner, including: - 6 months of FREE lab space at UVU Bio - Personal mentorship from Immobazyme executives - R50,000 in consumables from inqaba biotec - Scale-up support at CSIR labs - A scholarship for a biomanufacturing course - An IP Choice Award from Von Seidels Who can apply? - Aspiring entrepreneurs with ideas in Molecular Biology - Startups with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4/5 -Individuals based in South Africa 🗓️ Submit your pitch deck by October 10th ➡️https://bit.ly/3XIRyrX #Catalyst2024 #Biotech #Startups #Innovation #SouthAfrica