THE INNOVATION HUB’s BIOTECHNOLOGY INCUBATION PROGRAMME TO SHOWCASE AT THE BIO AFRICA CONVENTION
The Innovation Hub- the Innovation Agency of the Gauteng Province was excited to showcase its Business Incubation Programmes- BioPark@Gauteng Business Incubator, Maxum Smart and Climate Innovation Centre South Africa along with its Innovators -at the Inaugural BIO Africa Convention to which was held on 27 to 29 August 2018 at the Durban International Convention Centre also known as Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC.
The BIO Africa Convention provides a platform for dialogue and discussion with stakeholders in the global biotechnology environment. It is designed to showcase Africa’s Biosciences innovations to the global world. Bioscience is one of the priority sectors of The Innovation Hub. The convention presented invaluable opportunities for The Innovation Hub and its entrepreneurs to network with investors, collaborators and other interested parties with intent to collaborate, partner and invest. These types of platforms are essential to the growth of entrepreneurs. The BIO Africa Convention is driven in partnership with governments, industry bodies, investment agencies, and research institutions, locally and globally.
The BioPark@Gauteng provides business development support to start-ups in the health (biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, indigenous knowledge-based neutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, cosmetics) and agriculture (agro-/food-processing, bioprocessing, smart agriculture) in industrial biotechnology sectors. The support is provided in collaboration with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and eGoliBio Life Sciences Incubator. Maxum Smart provides business development support to start –ups in the smart industries (ICT and Advanced manufacturing) while Climate Innnovation Centre South Africa provides business development support to start-ups in the green economy focusing on energy, water and waste.
Seven entrepreneurs incubated at the BioPark@Gauteng, Maxum Smart and Climate Innovation Centre South Africa were selected to showcase at the convention. Among them were, Pydynamix, a start-up incubated for KwameEMR, a medical device integrator and software development company that designs medical solutions related to Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) surgical niche markets. Three solutions (EHR, EMR, ICE) have already been designed with the participation of leading physicians and surgeons in electronic health records and device integration
PRD Logistics, incubated for the PARA-TUBE, a built-in toilet, that retro fits into any existing wheel chair. The PARA-TUBE allows wheel chair or semi wheel chair bound people to access any facility without having to leave his/her wheel chair to use the toilet.
Circumfort, an underwear specially designed for circumcised men which works to keep the penis in an upright position, which consequently limits discomfort and prevents the possibility of swelling after circumcision.
Khepri Innovations who manufacture a fly larvae-based animal protein and converts agricultural and food waste into useable products through bioconversion and harness the biology of insects to control agricultural runoffs in the form of manure and agricultural waste. The innovation is a response to the challenge of rising fishmeal prices by offering inland farmers viable alternative to fishmeal and fishbased lipids.
“The exhibition platform given to the entrepreneurs at BioPark@Gauteng is part of the incubator’s efforts to help the start-ups to expand their markets and partner base. Such an opportunity is afforded to start-ups that are scaling up and towards graduation from the programme”. – Dr Chamunorwa Togo, GM: Bio-Economy, The Innovation Hub
Visit:
For more information, please contact:
Linah Nematandani
Communication and Marketing Manager
lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com
(+27) 12 844 0030/ (+27) 71 673 9964
Twitter: @InnovHub
Facebook: InnovhubZA
About GGDA
The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), is an agency of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED).GGDA is the implementation arm of the GDED and assists the department in leading, facilitating and managing sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth and development in the Gauteng City Region.
About The Innovation Hub
The Innovation Hub, a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) is the innovation agency of the Gauteng province and is responsible for managing Africa’s first internationally accredited Science and Technology Park of the same name, and is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP). Strategically located in Tshwane, South Africa's executive capital in the ‘smart’ province of Gauteng, The Innovation Hub implements initiatives identified in the Gauteng Innovation Strategy and Green Economy strategy to advance the economic development and growth of the Province through innovation. The Innovation Hub has created unique spaces, in Tshwane and the rest of the Gauteng province, for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists to meet, network and prosper.
For more information visit www.theinnovationhub.com