Innovus Technology Transfer

This Women’s Month, we celebrate women turning scientific curiosity into innovation with real-world applications.

Dr Rene Naidoo-Blassoples and her collaborators at Stellenbosch University have developed a novel membrane bioreactor that allows researchers to investigate how microorganisms communicate while remaining physically separated.

The SU-developed technology could help researchers engineer more efficient microbial ecosystems for biotechnology, food production, fermentation and sustainable industrial processes.

Read the full story and discover how women researchers at SU are helping to shape a more sustainable future https://www.su.ac.za/en/innovus/news/novel-membrane-bioreactor-helping-scientists-unlock-potential-microbial-ecosystems

A warm welcome to Nonhlanhla Cebekhulu, who has joined the Innovus Technology Transfer Stellenbosch University as the new Administrative Officer!

Behind every successful innovation journey is a strong support team, and Nonhlanhla will play an important role in helping the TTO deliver efficient technology transfer services to researchers and innovators.

We're excited to have her on board and look forward to the valuable contributions she'll make to the Innovus team.

Read her story here: https://www.su.ac.za/en/innovus/news/nonhlanhla-cebekhulu-joins-innovus-tto-ip-administrative-officer-supporting-technology

Are you a Stellenbosch University (SU) researcher involved in a spin-out company or thinking of starting one?

Commercialising your research is an exciting journey, but it also brings important responsibilities. Whether you're a founders, directors, shareholders, CEOs, or advisors understanding how to identify and manage conflicts of interest is essential for successful and responsible commercialisation.

Join the Innovus Technology Transfer and Dommisse Attorneys Inc. for the 2026 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 where SU and legal experts will provide practical guidance on:
• Understanding conflict of interest in research and innovation;
• Navigating SU policies and disclosure requirements;
• Managing conflicts of interest in spin-out companies;
• Corporate governance responsibilities for company leaders; and
• Practical examples and best practices.

Webinar dates, times and registration links:

• 5 August 2026 | 12:00 – 13:30 4ccfc6d2-26a5-4380-8828-def4959e207c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4ccfc6d2-26a5-4380-8828-def4959e207c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348
• 12 August 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30 9cf785ad-3d2a-443d-a438-d7521f8ffefc@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cf785ad-3d2a-443d-a438-d7521f8ffefc@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348
• 19 August 2026 | 09:00 – 10:30 a9ea438f-998e-41ce-9570-235d21f8a704@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9ea438f-998e-41ce-9570-235d21f8a704@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348

Whether you're considering establishing a spin-out company, already serve as a director or shareholder, or are involved in commercialising your research, this series is for you.

For enquiries, contact Innovus TTO at [email protected]

Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Science | Stellenbosch University - Faculty of Engineering | Stellenbosch University Research for Impact | Stellenbosch University | Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences | Launchlab

From a 16-year-old patient's challenge solved with local innovation!

Did you know that Sternal tumours are rare but often require complex reconstruction? Surgeons often struggle to find affordable, durable implants that restore both function and appearance.

That’s why we are celebrating Dr. Riaan Nel and Prof. Jacques Janson this National Science Month. Together, they designed a 3D-printed titanium sternal implant to solve exactly this problem.

It is affordable, durable, and ready for commercialisation—offering hope to thousands of patients worldwide. It’s a true testament to how clinical challenges inspire locally developed solutions with global potential.

Read more about this incredible breakthrough at the link below!
https://www.su.ac.za/en/innovus/news/dr-nel-and-prof-jansons-groundbreaking-titanium-innovation-aims-restore-chest-walls-thousands

How do we ensure life-saving innovations reach those who need them most?

Innovus Technology Transfer Office and GHIAA invite you to a free online webinar on negotiating licensing, technology transfer and access to healthcare innovations, taking place on 13 July 2026 from 13:00-14:30.

Whether you're a researcher, tech transfer professional, biotech entrepreneur, funder or legal expert, this webinar will give you practical tools to navigate the complex intersection of commercial R&D and public health access.

What you'll learn:
• The real trade-offs between financial incentives and broad access
• How licensing contract language affects affordability
• Where current development plans fall short – and how to fix them

Register now: dfc86bd2-9660-432e-a458-18d502a82f8c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/dfc86bd2-9660-432e-a458-18d502a82f8c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348

Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences identified a gap that brings dignity and respect to body donation programmes.

The faculty developed a 𝐂𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤, which is a digital management and compliance system designed specifically for anatomical resources.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
• Complete lifecycle tracking – from registration to teaching/research allocation to final disposal;
• Sound audit trail – every interaction is verified, ready for inspections;
• Historical reconciliation – digitise and unify decades of paper records;
• Plug-and-play – works with your existing Microsoft 365 environment, or host it on your own secure server; and
• Cost effective – no bloated commercial features, just what you need.

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 Innovus Technology Transfer Office at Stellenbosch University
Want to know more? Send an email to Innovus TTO at [email protected]
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐔 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬: https://sun.portals.in-part.com/

Join Innovus as a 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫! Help turn university research into real-world impact at Stellenbosch University.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐲 26 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 2026

Apply now: https://shorturl.at/m4VmS

When we think of the global plastic problem, few of us picture microscopic fungi as the solution. But Prof. Marinda Viljoen-Bloom from Stellenbosch University has spent over 30 years proving that the smallest organisms can solve our biggest problems.

𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞? Genetically modified yeast.

For decades, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐣𝐨𝐞𝐧-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦 has been quietly building the foundation of South Africa’s bioeconomy. From renewable biofuels to biodegradable plastics, her work proves that nature-based solutions aren't just an aspiration, they are a scientific reality.
She is also a 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 of an 𝐒𝐔 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧-𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, Urobo Biotech, which made history as the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 to reach the Hult Prize Global Accelerator finals in 2025 (Top 8 out of 188 000 teams from 130 countries).

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝:
• Developing microbial enzymes that rapidly break down bioplastics.
• Managing the bioplastic waste stream more effectively at industrial scale
• Ultimately developing a process to harvest lactic acid from the degraded bioplastic and turn it back into bioplastics

Hats off to Prof. Viljoen-Bloom, Dr. Wessel Myburgh, Dominique Rocher, and the entire Urobo Biotech team. The future of the bioplastic circular economy is brewing in a lab in Stellenbosch.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: https://www.su.ac.za/en/innovus/news/biotechnology-driving-greener-future