EBioBuzz

EBioBuzz, a UCT and Cape Biotech Trust (CBT) initiative is a networking event series aimed at promoting the entrepreneurial spirit of South Africa. It is specifically targeted at the interaction between Engineering, Biosciences and Business, through networking between industry and academia. EBioBuzz 2007 was aimed at post-graduates students at UCT, as well as industry players in Cape Town.

Students at the event expressed the wish to be able to contribute to society, through their own company. Prominent hurdles identified were fear of failure, as well as uncertainty on how to start the journey to create a company, product or idea. Many students wanted to know how to evaluate whether an idea makes sense from a business perspective. Through discussion the participants found that the best way to do this is to draft a business plan, with valuable assistance available from UCT's Innovation Office (contact Andrew Bailey, 021 650 2425).

Dr Garth Cambrey (Iqhilika & Makana Meadery, Grahamstown) addressed the paradoxes in Science-Business with a humorous and insightful presentation, while Melinda Griffiths (BERU - UCT) discussed how to identify ideas from market needs.

The event is characterised by a no-nonsense, informal approach with intensive networking and workshopping. Engineering carries strong emphasis, but the promotion of a technology intensive entrepreneurial culture in South Africa is the ultimate goal, regardless of the specific discipline. The next event will focus on the difference between a Research presentation and a Sales pitch, which will include 'becoming friendly with the press'.

To add value to industry as well as encouraging student entrepreneurship, interested persons are encouraged to contact Bernelle Verster to identify specific challenges they would like to see addressed.

By Bernelle Vester

Read more at http://www.merahmas.co.za/ebiobuzz.html
http://www.capebiotech.co.za
http://www.iqhilika.co.za