It's been a busy, but extremely fruitful year for InnovUS, the technology transfer company of Stellenbosch University. Despite the negative impact of the global economic crisis on commercialisation, Anita Nel, Chief executive officer, says that 2009 has been a great year for innovation, entrepreneurial activity as well as financial and company success.
"In terms of the year under review, the highlight was undoubtedly the restructuring of the company into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University," says Anita. "We also moved our premises to 15 De Beer Street, Stellenbosch in a strategic effort to be in close proximity to our academic clients."
Entrepreneurial activity at the University saw the establishment of Niocad (Pty) Ltd, a company that develops software for circuit design. InnovUS is also finalising negotiations with Catchword, a company specialising in speech technologies, bringing the total number of spin-out companies to eight.
Regarding innovation, Anita says that the University has excelled by exceeding its 2007 record of 43 invention disclosures in August already. And that isn't the only record broken because:
The year has also seen an increase in marketing activities. "Technology transfer requires an intensive marketing effort and we are thus following a structured marketing plan," says Anita. "This includes the launch of our e-newsletter, a two-page article in Matieland and starting the ball rolling on our website makeover which is due for completion before the end of September 2009. We will also be hosting a Spring Workshop series next month to celebrate our tenth anniversary."
Other developments during the year included InnovUS's role in setting up and hosting Tektique, an inter-university Technology Transfer Office (TTO) initiative, and the finalisation around the new IPR from the Publicly Financed Research Act. The latter has a significant impact on intellectual property (IP) developed at state-funded research institutions.
"Progressing into 2010 will bring a number of new and exciting challenges," says Anita. "We are particularly looking forward to the approval of the revised IP Commercialisation Policy, improving the short courses environment, finding funding for prospective spin-out companies and projects and increasing our number of licences."
It's been ten successful years since InnovUS has first opened its doors. To celebrate, we've treated ourselves to a little cosmetic enhancement – a facelift of sorts in moving with the times. Without further ado, we are very proud to unveil our brand-new website!
In our last e-newsletter we mentioned our restructuring into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University ten years after the original Office for Intellectual Property opened its doors. InnovUS Tegnologie Oordrag (Pty) Ltd. replaces Unistel Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd and as such we now have a brand new empowered Board of Directors. We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce our new directors:
On 19 August Von Seidels Intellectual Property Attorneys joined the InnovUS stable as resident Intellectual Property (IP) attorneys. With many years of IP rights experience, knowledge and technical expertise, they are considered to be one of South Africa's leading specialist IP attorney firms and we are very excited to have them on board!
As researchers and inventors using InnovUS's IP services, you are now able to arrange consultations with Von Seidels to obtain expert advice on a range of IP-related matters including:
Consultations take place every Wednesday from 9:00 to 16:00 at the InnovUS offices, 15 De Beer Street, Stellenbosch University. You can make your appointment online via the InnovUS website, by e-mailing patent@sun.ac.za or by contacting Venessa Williams on 021 808 3826.
From 1 July 2009 a new set of regulations regarding the reproduction of course material containing third party content came into effect. You are advised to take note of the amendments to the Blanket Licence Agreement (BLA) with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO). The following applies:
Ms Carol Kat, SU's Copyright Officer, is responsible for overseeing any copyright reporting and will assist you with the copyright request process and interpretation of the blanket licence guidelines. Contact her on 021 808 2992 or carolk@sun.ac.za.
Researchers, inventors and students from Stellenbosch University are invited to our Spring Workshop series as part of our 10-year birthday celebrations. The workshops, to take place from 26 - 28 October, will explore various topics relating to intellectual property and its commercialisation. As with any respectable birthday party, we will also be serving birthday cake. Join in celebrating with us!
The theme of the workshop series is "Going for Gold". It will explore various topics related to intellectual property and its commercialisation, the impact of the recently promulgated IPR Act on government-funded higher education and research institutions, various options available to protect your intellectual property, and the role of InnovUS at Stellenbosch University.
The programme for the three days is guaranteed not to disappoint and will include presentations from:
Do not miss out on this superb opportunity to learn from experts in the field! Attendance is free of charge. Registration is from 14:00 – 14:30 each day (26 - 28 October). For more information, and to obtain the full programme, contact Venessa Williams on 021 808 3826 or e-mail venessa@sun.ac.za.
If you are involved in the Short Courses certification process, please be advised of the strict new guidelines for the issuing and printing of certificates. The guidelines form part of the University's quality assurance process, and aim to ensure the security of the certification process.
The following guidelines are effective immediately:
For a complete list of the compulsory information that must appear on short-course certificates, as well as the correct procedures to follow, please visit the Short Courses website.
For further information or queries, please contact Ms Carol Kat on 021 808 2992 or e-mail carolk@sun.ac.za.
The LifeQ team from Stellenbosch University has been awarded an impressive second place at the 2009 SA Bio Plan competition. The team, headed by PhD students Riaan Conradie and Franco du Preez from the Department of Biochemistry, impressed judges with a business plan submission for a medical breathing device to measure body fat percentage, resting metabolic rate and respiratory quotient.
The competition is a Biotechnology Executive Education Programme and Business Plan Competition (BPC) for aspiring bio-entrepreneurs and seeks to encourage the development of biotechnology businesses in South Africa. It was hosted by The Innovation Fund (IF) in collaboration with the Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centres (BRICs) and in partnership with Emory University of Atlanta, Georgia USA.
In March this year several teams from all over South Africa, including the LifeQ team, handed in a one-page business opportunity to the Innovation Fund. LifeQ was then chosen as one of eight teams to attend a week-long Biotechnology Executive Education Programme presented by academics from the Goizueta Business School of Emory University.
There they received world-class accredited training in business and had the opportunity to present their business plans before a panel of international judges. During the training, all teams worked closely with their assigned mentors to write an extensive business plan.
The plan was presented at the Bio2Biz conference at the ICC in Durban in September. At the gala dinner held on 22 September, LifeQ was named runners up in the 2009 SA Bio Plan competition. They received a R50 000 cash prize as well as an opportunity of internship in the USA.
The LifeQ team is currently in the process of building a commercial prototype of their device. They then intend to release it in, among others, the USA, a country where 70 million of the 300 million individuals are on diet each year without success.
As the technology transfer company of Stellenbosch University, InnovUS proudly supported the team throughout the process and congratulates them on their achievement!
Innovus, Stellenbosch University
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15 De Beer Street
Stellenbosch
7600
South Africa
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PO Box 3135
Matieland
7602
South Africa
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t +27 (0) 21 808 3826
e info@innovus.co.za
e forms@sun.ac.za |
