Theft-proof pyramid coffins, biofuel from waste and no more maths problems

Imagine a software system that allows you to solve virtually any mathematical problem (including geometry and trigonometry), or a theft-proof, pyramid shaped coffin that allows you to be buried in a squatting position, or how about a fuel that burns cleaner and produces less greenhouse gas, while using up agricultural by-products?

Think Student Innovation! The three novel ideas described above have already been conceptualised by student teams from Wits University, who are also the winners of the Wits leg of the 2005 National Student Innovation Competition. The winners were announced recently at a function showcasing student entrepreneurship and innovation at Wits University.

The Innovation Hub's maxum Business Incubator, itself a fertile innovations breeding ground, attended the event where the winners of the competition were announced and participated in the exhibition at the event, showcasing some of the innovations developed by Incubator participants.

According to Peter Bezuidenhoudt, CEO of Wits Enterprise - the entity that is attempting to grow student innovation and entrepreneurship at Wits - the aim of the showcase is to start to catalyse the growth of an innovation community. "Vibrant economies that lead to the creation of jobs all over the world are characterised by the synergy between great universities, venture capitalist companies, strong government support and networks of inventive people. We are trying to foster such a systemic, breeding ground by inviting the internal and external role-players involved in student innovation and entrepreneurship to network and cooperate as a community sharing the same vision."

Craig Wing, student innovation coordinator at Wits Enterprise concurs. "The purpose of the National Innovation Competition is to promote entrepreneurship through the commercialisation of innovative ideas of young South African entrepreneurial students," he says. "The competition is open to all registered students at Wits University and submissions can represent any sector or academic stream, provided that they are technological innovations and lead to a tangible product or service."

The eLaboSolver team walked away with the first prize of R50 000, having developed a software system that can solve virtually any mathematical problem (including geometry and trigonometry). It also allows for practice exams and tests to be marked online, facilitates long distance learning though real time conference functionality, and supports wireless interfaces and handwriting recognition.

The second prize of R30 000 went to the Lebone Coffins team, for their design of a pyramid shaped coffin that allows for burial in a squatting position, traditionally and culturally reserved for royalty and the upper-class) claimed. The coffin saves 33% space, includes colour changing technology to reduce coffin theft, and reacts with body odours to progressively change to green when used.

The third place went to team that developed a process to economically produce transportation fuel through biofuel production from lignocellulosic waste, blended with petroleum, which burns cleaner and produces less greenhouse gas, while using agricultural by-products.

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