UCT innovations amongst the best nationally in the 2009/2010 edition of the National Innovation Competition

On the 6th of August 2010, phase two of the National Innovation Competition took place at Moses Mabida Stadium, Durban .Phase one of this competition (the institutional phase) was staged last year and three winners were chosen from each participating institution. These winners automatically qualified for the national finals where they were given an opportunity to showcase their business plans against the best from other HEI across the Republic.

In last week's national finals, UCT was represented, by Dry Bath, a conventional bath substituting invention by Headboy industries which was ranked 3rd during the UCT's institutional phase by Ludwick Marishane, Uncontained, an innovative eco-friendly housing invention invented by Justin Beswick ranked second and NecroChronometer, an invention by Dr. Sipho Mfolozi, which is a device capable of estimating the time of death for Forensic Pathologists ranked first in UCT's institutional phase click here for more pictures of the event.

The organizers of the competition added a new twist to the entire exhibition by inviting learners from across KZN, to come and witness the future of technology development in South Africa. This did not only spark curiosity amongst them, as far as technology innovation is concerned, but it also exposed them to unlimited possibilities that technology can offer when mixed with business acumen.

With great inventions that were at display during the event, when the Awards ceremony came during the Gala Dinner, everyone was waiting in anticipation, particularly participants and representative of different HEI's.

Amongst dignitaries present were the Director General of the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa, Phil Mjwara and the Chairperson of the Technology and Innovation Agency, Dr Mamphela Ramphela, who both gave inspiring speeches alluding to the importance of technology development and subsequent commercialization for the benefit of the citizens of the country.