The Innovus Technology Transfer Office (TTO) recently hosted their annual Inventors awards ceremony to celebrate the researchers and inventors at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) who have demonstrated academic excellence through the granting of patents this past year. The event honours the contributions of researchers to the innovation space and to recognise the immense potential of Intellectual Property (IP) in the advancement of technology and creating real-life impact.
Set against the backdrop of L’avenir Estate, the 2024 Innovus Inventors Awards brought together more than 80 researchers, industry partners and SU staff. In partnership with Von Seidels, the TTO awarded 19 patent certificates which recognized patents granted in various territories and six special awards to over 40 researchers.
Ravini Moodley, Director of Innovus TTO stated that “working at the intersection of research and real-life impact is incredibly rewarding. We get to discover and explore the potential of research and inventions to positively impact society. Doing this job and working with these researchers is an honour.”
Delivering a short message, Bastiaan Koster, managing partner at Von Seidels mentioned the importance and power of the story that a business shares with the rest of the world. Most importantly, the story going forward of the business. He also says that the story of any business needs an anchor, and that anchor is invariably the brand or trade mark linked to the business.
A highlight of the evening was the special awards which were presented by Anita Nel, Chief Director of the Innovation and Commercialisation Division, to the following recipients:
Impact Award 2024: Benefit Sharing and Community Development
Research Innovator Awards 2024: ?
- Dr. Catherine Kaschula
- Professor Gerhard Walzl
- Professor Robert Pott
Addressing the researchers Professor Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer of Finance and Operations at SU, remarked, “listening to your inventions this evening and pondering the possibility that some of the inventions may be hard to realise up front, it is important that we work to realise which of these inventions will either raise productivity or lower transaction costs, because those are the things that raise the trajectory of our society.”
Some of the patents granted include methods and kits for diagnosing COVID-19 disease, Antifungal Peptide Compositions (BIOPEP), IR Needle, an Autophagic Sensor Prototype and a Cadaver Dissection Table.
To get in touch with our Technology Transfer Office about these patents, contact tto@sun.ac.za.
