Tertiary innovation

University of the Free State
Three international medical conferences heard exciting news from a University of the Free State professor in September 2011. Professor Lodewyk Kock, outstanding professor in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, revealed that yeast assays discovered by his team have the potential to be developed into drugs that can play a role in fighting malaria and cancer.

Kock has developed a new approach to nanotechnology in biology and has collaborated with academics in the Centre for Microscopy and the Department of Physics. Between 6 and 23 September, Kock was the keynote speaker in Baltimore, USA (International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs), Beijng, China (Medichem 2011), and Athens, Greece (XVI Congress of European Mycologists).

Universitas Academic Hospital was the site of the first-ever implant of a new aortic valve in South Africa in the course of 2011. A collaborative effort between the departments of Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery and the company, Medtronic, led to the successful conclusion of this delicate procedure. The process eliminates the need for invasive surgery.

In 2009, the UFS Department of Physics took delivery of instrumentation valued at R23-million: the PHI700 Scanning Auger Nanoprobe and the PHI5000 Versaprobe, both of which will be used for nano research and contract research in the newly established National Nano Surface Characterisation Facility. Teaching in a range of new disciplines is now offered: nanoluminescent materials, nanocrystalline metals and carbon nanotubes, among others.

The head of the Department of Physics, Professor Hendrik Swart, has received national awards for his contribution to research in the niche area of nanophysics.

The Boyden Observatory, about 30km outside Bloemfontein, has been upgraded to the standards required of a research facility. A UFS PhD student, Bosco Oruru, was awarded best astronomy presenter at the December 2009 Square Kilometre Array conference.

Central University of Technology
The Central University of Technology (CUT) has three main focus areas in its research programmes: industrial design, communication and development; quality of health and living; and people and skills development. Biotechnology is integrated into many of the research programmes undertaken at CUT and the university publishes two research journals every year: Interim (an in-house publication) and an accredited journal, Journal for New Generation Science.

Each of CUT’s three faculties (Faculty of Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Management Sciences) has made commitments to increase the amount of research that it undertakes.

CUT has a number of practical programmes that aim to connect the institution, its academics and students with the world of industry. These include initiatives such as the CUT Science Park, which acts as an incubator for new entrepreneurs. The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) is located in the School of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, and focuses strongly on research and development. In 2009, companies from Wales and Russia made use of CRPM’s services.

Among the important projects that the CRPM is working on is research into the metallurgical characteristics of components manufactured by the direct sintering of titanium. The centre’s titanium rapid prototyping machine has recently been upgraded and a comprehensive testing regime has been developed by the centre which will inform further research.

The Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) works together with manufacturers in testing products and suggesting improvements in design. One of the units of the PDTS is the Design Centre, which offers students the opportunity to learn about computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D scanning.

A partnership between the provincial government, Indian company Satyam and the Central University of Technology saw the launch in 2010 of the R17-million Regional Innovation Centre. Software development and training in information technology skills will be at the centre of this initiative.

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