Daily news archives
Students aided to be innovative entrepreneurs
3 September 2007
Getting wise: Students trying to get a head start on the National Innovation Student Business Plan Competition at a recent workshop.
The UCT's Research Contracts and IP Services Office held a workshop on 29 August to help students draft business plans for the upcoming National Innovation Student Business Plan Competition.
The workshop was presented by Dr Mike Herrington, of the Graduate School of Business's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and was the first of a series of such training events.
The competition, held every second year, aims to boost technological innovation among university students. It is run by the Innovation Fund established by the Department of Science and Technology.
The competition is divided into institutional and national phases. The winner in the first phase takes home R50 000, and the top three entries are included in the national leg. The national champion will pocket R300 000 and may participate in an international competition.
In 2005, a UCT team led by Jean-Claude Malengret finished third in the national competition, and their product was successfully commercialised.
More information can be found on the UCT site. - Author: Myolisi Gophe