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27 December 2019
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Story Dr Cindé Greyling
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Photo Supplied
KovsieInnovation at the UFS is bridging the gap between industry and academics with a powerful force. For too long, research remained an academic pursuit, with many innovative ideas stuck between the pages of a thesis – only to come alive during exclusive, short-lived conference proceeds.
KovsieInnovation
Recently, Gerard Verhoef, Director in the Directorate: Research Development (DRD), and his team from KovsieInnovation finalised their Innovation and Commercialisation Strategy in order to create a structured pathway for good ideas. The primary objective of KovsieInnovation – the UFS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office – is to achieve sustainable growth in third-stream income from innovative research activities stemming from the UFS. “Potential successful ideas must be feasible, viable, and sustainable, and we formulated an eight-step plan to facilitate this,” Verhoef explains. Ultimately, the DRD wants to attract new and continuous research as a renowned academic knowledge partner that can foster, drive, and successfully commercialise innovative research activities; and in doing so, foster an entrepreneurial culture at the UFS.
Liquid Culture
One such success story is the development of Liquid Culture into a business of choice, supplying liquid yeast to breweries and bakeries. Christopher Rothmann and Dr Errol Cason are the driving forces behind this company that produces their sought-after and stable yeast product in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology at the UFS. With world-class equipment and laboratories, they house one of the largest yeast-culture collections in the world.
Both Rothman and Dr Cason were home brewers for many years before starting to produce commercial batches. They believe it would not have been possible without the help of KovsieInnovation. This project was also one of the finalists in the National Entrepreneurship Intervarsity.
Christo Strydom Nutrition (CSN)
Another innovative way in which the UFS generates third-stream income via the DRD, is by partnering with already successful commercial products. One such example is the recent successful royalty agreement with CSN. With this transaction, the university unlocked its brand potential to the benefit of both the industry partner and the UFS. Quality assurance remains the key success factor for deals like this.
Badminton: Kovsie players rule
2005-07-07
Kovsie players again rule, as in the past three years, the SASSU badminton tournament currently being played at the University of Cape Town.
In the individual championships Chris Dednam gained a hat-trick by winning the men's singles title, the doubles title with Roelof Dednam and the mixed doubles title with Liansa Coetzee.
Roelof also won the silver medal in singles and bronze with Elaine Lues in the mixed doubles. Even the bronze medal in men's singles was won by another Kovsie, Raymond Ronne, who also won silver in the doubles and bronze in the mixed doubles with Sonè Strauss.
Liansa and Sonè took the silver medal in the women's doubles after a long three-setter final which could have gone their way. They both also went to the semi-finals of the singles where they were closely beaten. Elaine Lues and Liezl van Rensburg made it to the quarter-finals of the doubles.
In the annual team competition Kovsies are well on their way to a third consecutive trophy.