Inventors competition aims to boost SA entrepreneurship

25 April 2001 News

Catalyst Innovation Incubator and Deloitte & Touche are offering a commercial innovation prize for post-graduate students. The competition, open to all Masters and Doctoral university students in the Health Science, Science and Engineering faculties, aims to encourage entrepreneurial thinking at universities and thereby boost the number of technology-based businesses established in South Africa.

Catalyst Innovation and Deloitte & Touche says that they are also hosting a series of free workshops at universities around the country, aimed at assisting scientists to develop and commercialise innovative technologies.

Several notable innovations have their origin in South Africa. For example, the CAT scanner; one of the first mechanical heart valves, the LoDox low-dosage X-ray machine; and ground-penetrating radar. But, whilst several SA institutions enjoy first-rate international reputations, Catalyst Innovation says that South Africa tends to be slow at supporting its own innovators and commercialising their ideas.

The prizes allocated are: 1st prize: R35 000, 2nd prize: R25 000, 3rd prize: R15 000. Seven second-round entrants each receive R2000. Submission deadline is 31 August 2001.

Catalyst Innovation

(021) 423 6940

www.catalystii.net

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