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25 February 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
G20 - 2025
G20 delegates from member countries and other invited guests in attendance at the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) and G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB) meetings and other side events.

Against the backdrop of the upcoming G20 Summit to be hosted by South Africa in November 2025, the University of the Free State (UFS) – in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) – held the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) and G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB) meetings on 23 and 24 February 2025.

In her opening address to G20 delegates from member countries, national and international knowledge partners, members of the Free State provincial government, and representatives of the DSTI, Prof Hester Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, indicated, “It is an honour for the UFS to be among the few South African universities to host this essential Research and Innovation Working Group.” In addition, she highlighted that the deliberations and discussions set to take place during this important workshop can set in motion chains of events ultimately contributing to improved lives for everyone. These sentiments were also echoed by Prof Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, who underscored the importance and historic nature of the upcoming G20 Summit.

In his virtual address, Minister Nzimande explained that South Africa’s chosen theme for the G20 Summit – Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability – was inspired by the general complexity of our time, “in particular the transnational nature of these complexities, such as conflict, the displacement of people, poverty”, among other things. As such, he expressed that in this case, cooperation among nations is becoming increasingly essential.

As they concluded their addresses, Prof Nzimande and Prof Klopper, wished the delegates well in their deliberations. ‘’May your discussions be successful, and your goals be achieved. And may your time with us lead to a renewed experience of the value of innovation through connection, ‘’expressed Prof Klopper.

 

Contributing events

As part of the programme at these proceedings, several side events took place. These included panel discussions with indigenous knowledge holders such as Telle Hoeses, Chief Language Practitioner for Khoi and San Languages, along with experts of indigenous medicine. The conversation focused on indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) and some of the key concerns and progress that these knowledge holders have made in the space. In addition, these knowledge holders, many of whom are business owners who sell products made from indigenous medicines, also had the opportunity to exhibit their products. According to Dan du Toit, Deputy Director-General: International Cooperation and Resources at the DSTI, these panel discussions with young people, bioeconomy researchers, and indigenous knowledge holders were an opportunity to gain access to a diversity of voices, which would not normally find expression in formal meetings. “It is also an opportunity for our international guests to get insight into who we are as a country and what some of our concerns might be,” said Du Toit.

One of the highly anticipated side events on the programme was the joint G20 RIWG and GIB event titled ‘UNESCO Women and Girls in Science’, which took place on 25 February 2025. The event took the form of a round-table discussion, in an attempt to answer the question: Based on your experiences in various roles within higher education in South Africa, Africa, and globally, what are some key insights regarding the role of universities in closing the gender gap in STEM, specifically concerning professional development and creating supportive research environments where everyone, especially women, can thrive?

Prof Anthea Rhoda; Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the UFS, was one of the contributors in this session. In response to the question, Prof Rhoda highlighted, “Universities should also be spaces characterised by intellectual freedom and freedom of expression, where archaic ideas about male superiority and patriarchy can be openly confronted and contested, without fear of victimisation. She expressed that an active way in which the UFS has committed itself to a culture of diversity and inclusion is through Vision130.

As she was wrapping up her address, Prof Rhoda also highlighted, “To address areas of underrepresentation of women in senior academic and leadership positions within the university, a Working Group on Gender Parity in Academic Leadership was established, with the critical mandate to drive attitudinal shifts, advocate for changes where necessary, and highlight barriers to women’s advancement.”

 

The programme comes to an end

The last day of the programme was reserved for comments, reflections, and discussions on deliverables. As such, there were positive responses to the way the deliberations took place. In fact, Hoese, speaking in her capacity as an indigenous knowledge holder, said, “This was a good platform for us to make progress towards language recognition and officialisation.”

News Archive

Heart-valve studies receive international recognition
2017-07-11

 Description: Heart-valve studies  Tags: Heart-valve studies  

Prof Francis Smit, Head of the Department of
Cardiothoracic Surgery at the UFS, and Manager of the
Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre, with
Kyle Davis, Mechanical Engineer at the centre.

Photo: Rulanzen Martin

Three heart-valve studies which have been developed at the Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre at the School of Medicine at the University of the Free State (UFS) were recently presented in Monte Carlo at the conference of the prestigious global Heart Valve Society (HVS).

These studies are all headed by Prof Francis Smit, Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the UFS, and Manager of the Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre.
Prof Smit says the HVS is a combination of the former heart-valve societies of Europe and the US. “Studies on heart-valve disease, heart-valve-related products and operations, as well as the design and development of new valves were presented. There are both clinical and development divisions.

He says the study in which the hemodynamics of their redesigned mechanical poppet valve was compared to a commercial bi-leaflet mechanical heart valve, was named as the best poster presentation in the experimental valve development and numerical flow dynamics division. The study, which was presented by Kyle Davis, mechanical engineer at the centre, competed against some of the best heart-valve research units in the world.

The redesigned valve, based on the 1960s Cape Town poppet valve, has the potential to provide a low-cost solution for mechanical heart-valve replacement. It is possible to produce the titanium ring with 3-D printers and is, together with the silicon poppet valve, extremely inexpensive compared to current mechanical valve-manufacturing processes.
The advantages of this valve over current mechanical valves is that, due to the effective and laminar flow characteristics, as well as the simple locking mechanisms, there is a reduced chance of valve thrombosis, and the need for anti-clotting drugs is therefore limited.

It was also confirmed that the new valve more than meets the published FDA (Federal Drug Agency) requirements, which determine the minimum standards of valves for human use in the US.

The redesigned valve also has a very low platelet activation impact, which is responsible for platelet thrombosis and leads to valve thrombosis or strokes. This valve is another heart-valve project by the centre, which is also in the process of evaluating a tri-leaflet polyurethane valve developed by them.


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