Innovus Newsletter 52d Edition

SUBG celebrates centenary during SU Toyota Woordfees 2023

The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) - the oldest academic botanical garden in South Africa – will be celebrating its centenary during the SU Toyota Woordfees from 7-15 October. Visitors can join the festivities in the garden, daily from 08:00 – 17:00.

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New faces in TTO

Coming back to SU is a full circle moment for Mashudu

Mashudu Nxumalo initially started her studies as a first-year B.Sc. student at Stellenbosch University.

Siya now one of those people who are doing amazing things

Her career started in 2017 as a B.Sc. chemistry graduate enrolled for an Honours degree.

Litha happy to be part of making innovation matter at Innovus

Litha Tywakadi brings to this division’s talent pool her knowledge of innovation and IP.

SU’s microbiology department produced most spinout companies

There surely is something brewing in the drinking water of the department of Microbiology in Stellenbosch University’s Faculty Science. This “micro” department produced more spinout companies than any other department at Stellenbosch University. It is the birthplace of three spinout companies,Biotikum, Fluorobiotech, Immobazyme, and Urobo Biotech, with two more in the pipeline, BioTrac and Sporatec.

SU students clinch victory in three EDHE categories

Three students from Stellenbosch University clinched victory in three of the five competition categories in the 2023 Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) competition. Michle Njokweni, Yaa Addo-Bediako, Jené Venter and Wessel Myburgh were amongst 38 studentpreneur finalists to take part in the regionals.

Celebrating 10 Years of LaunchLab

It started as an initiative to inspire students to embrace entrepreneurship and within four years, Stellenbosch University LaunchLab became the leading university incubator in Africa and has continued to go from strength to strength in its impact and contribution to the startup community in South Africa.

News from our Spinout Companies

SU collaborates with St Stithians College on green energy solutions

A delegation from St Stithians College, one of South Africa's most prestigious schools from Johannesburg, visited Stellenbosch University in July for a working session on finding green energy solutions for the school's 105 ha campus.

Innovus companies thrive despite challenges

Innovus, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) innovation and commercialisation division, has since its inception in 1998 seen many startups grow into successful businesses. Every year, Innovus celebrates the people heading up these successful companies on a special event.

Urobo’s technology puts the silver in the bioplastics bullet

Bioplastics have often been hailed as a solution to combat plastic pollution worldwide. However, SU students, Wessel Myburgh, a co-tutelage PhD candidate, and Dominique Rocher, have emerged with a potential answer for waste management companies grappling with the challenges posed by the increasing volume of bioplastic waste.

FluoroBiotech: Invest in Progress

Have you ever wondered how the COVID-19 PCR test works and why we don't manufacture its components and other high-value enzymes and proteins in South Africa? Us too! Welcome to Fluorobiotech, a driving force in South African biotechnology. Since our January 2023 launch, we've been making waves, generating revenue, and laying more foundation for a local biotech industry.

Gert van Deventer selected to participate in Stellenbosch University's PASS Staff Blended Mobility Programme

Stellenbosch University’s (SU) IP Specialist: Copyright and Trade Marks, Gert van Deventer, visited Lund University (LU) in Lund, Sweden in mid-September 2023 having been selected to participate in SU’s PASS Staff Blended Mobility Programme. The focus was on professional development, learning of new skills, job shadowing and the gaining of inter-cultural skills and international experience.