Webpage Content:
| 1. Staff Innovation Challenge 2020 Invite | Find information on the Innovation Challenge 2020 |
| 2. Innovation Challenge for CUT Students 2020 invite | Information on 2020 Student Innovation Challenge |
| 3. Innovation Challenge 2020 for Grade 4 - 12 learners | Information on 2020 Learners Innovation Challenge |
| 3. 2019 Staff and Student Innovation Challenge winners pitch their ideas | Videos available on 2019 winners |
| 4. Entrepreneurship Development Programme | Find information on the EDP Programme |
| 5. CUT - Turning job seekers into job creators | Read about the Idea Generator's exciting role at CUT |
INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2020
The Idea Generator (i-Gym) is excited to invite all CUT staff to take part in the 2020 Innovation Challenge
i-GYM cordially invites you to submit your creative, innovative or business ideas for the 2020 Innovation Challenge.
Eligibility: Open to all CUT staff members.
Benefits: Prizes up to the value of R25 000* to develop your idea or project will be awarded for these two categories:1. Best Idea / Project with highest Commercial Potential
2. Best Idea / Project with highest Social ImpactYou may submit more than one idea for consideration to be shortlisted.
Benefits to all participants: To be considered for placement in the 2021 i-GYM Entrepreneurship Development Program.Registration Opens: 20 August 2020
Registration Closes & final day for submission of presentations: 16 November 2020
Click the link for the entry form: Staff IC 2020 Entry form
i-Gym Innovation Challenge - Live Finals: 9 October 2020
Time: 10:00am - 13:00pm
Keynote speaker: Prof. Willie du Preez
Biography of Prof Willie du Preez
Prof. Du Preez started his career as a researcher in Materials Engineering at the Uranium Enrichment Corporation of South Africa (UCOR) in 1980. In 1988, he joined High Technology Products (Pty) Ltd, a spin-out company of UCOR, leading the design and development of satellite pressure vessels and hip replacement implants in Ti6Al4V.
He joined CSIR in 1993 where he led teams focussing on the development of products for applications in the medical, automotive and aerospace industries, as manager of the National Product Development Centre and, subsequently, the Light Metals competence area of CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing. Willie served as the Director of the national Titanium Centre of Competence until March 2014.
Since March 2014 he has served at the Central University of Technology, Free State, in the roles of Associate Professor and Director: Research of the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM). The CRPM’s research theme is additive manufacturing, with his own research focus being metal additive manufacturing and design for additive manufacturing.
Willie obtained his PhD (Solid State Physics) from the University of Stellenbosch in 1980 and has been a registered Professional Materials Scientist since 1983.
He has published 28 peer reviewed articles in scientific and technical journals and 110 papers and presentations at conferences and seminars. Willie has made 33 presentations as invited and keynote speaker at local and international seminars, workshops and conferences. He has supervised 27 students in their masters and doctoral studies. Researchers working under his leadership have produced 7 patents and 21 products, prototypes and technology demonstrators. Eight technology packages (commercialisable data packs) were generated by researchers under his leadership in the CSIR.
Join Zoom Meeting for the live finals:
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Meeting ID: 998 3061 8597
Passcode: 295238
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INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2020
The Idea Generator (i-Gym) is excited to invite all CUT students to take part in the 2020 Innovation Challenge
Our lives have changed rapidly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and never has innovation and compassion been more important. The COVID-19 pandemic brought far-reaching consequences and will have long-term effects on our education & health systems but also how we interact at work, our economy in general and how we socialize. Necessity is the mother of invention and we need innovative and entrepreneurial ideas to cope and adapt to this “New Normal”.
i-GYM cordially invites you to submit your creative, or innovative idea that could contribute to the economic recovery or to solve the vast array of problems caused by the pandemic. Solutions can be local or global, small business or industrial, preventative or treatment actions, creative or data driven for problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility: Open to all registered CUT students.
Benefits: Prizes up to the value of R25 000* to develop your idea or project will be awarded for these two categories:1. Best Idea / Project with highest Commercial Potential
2. Best Idea / Project with highest Social ImpactYou may submit more than one idea for consideration to be shortlisted.
Benefits to all participants: To be considered for placement in the 2021 i-GYM Entrepreneurship Development Program.Key Dates:
Registration Opens: 20 August 2020
Registration Closes & final day for submission of presentations: Closed
Ideation and Idea Development Workshop: 23 September 2020 from 10:00am - 12:00pmPitch Preparation Workshop: 29 September 2020
Testing of shortlisted presentations for pitching challenges: 5 October 2020
Do not hesitate to contact us regarding any questions at lklassen@cut.ac.za or ideagenerator@cut.ac.za
Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic
If you or your team’s solution is focussed on the COVID-19 pandemic and you think your innovative idea can make a difference, submit your idea related but not limited to the set of problem statements listed below.
You or your team can develop solutions across other areas not listed below that could create an impact and curb the spread and future outbreaks, so feel free to think outside the box.
- Containment of the virus: Measures and efforts to mitigate the transmission of the virus.
- Patient care and management: Healthcare system, also to keep track of affected and potential patients/remote treatment of isolated patients.
- Vulnerable Populations: The set of problems relevant to the elderly and the immuno-compromised.
- Fake news detection
- Personal Hygiene and Protection
- Movement tracking to diagnose contagion and track movements of people in quarantine areas/ lockdown regions/isolated patients
- Remote learning methods to address the widespread disruption of the educational systems due to the pandemic.
- Effective communication to ensure that verified and accurate information reaches even the most remote locations with least human intervention.
- Supply Chains: Solutions that aid efficient distribution of essential commodities.
- Large scale sterilization and sanitization
- Solutions for lessening the mental impact of social isolation
- Support to frontline healthcare workers
- Medical equipment: Diagnostic as well as therapeutic. There is an urgent need to develop safe and effective countermeasures that can be readily available, accessible and suitable for use in populations most in need.
i-Gym Innovation Challenge 2020
The Idea Generator (i-Gym) invites all Grade 4 - 12 learners to take part in the 2020 Innovation Challenge
Young scientists are invited to submit creative or innovative ideas to aid the recovery of the country's economy, or to solve the many problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Who can enter? The challenge is open to South African school learners in grade 4 to 12 attending any school in South Africa, including home schools.
Prizes: Win one of two vouchers per category, worth R5000*, to develop your idea or project.
Categories: Best Idea/Project with the highest Commercial Potential & Best Idea/Project with the highest Social Impact.
Important dates:
Registration opens: 20 August 2020
Ideation Sessions: 18 & 21 September 2020
Registration Closes & final day for submission of presentations: Closed
Innovation Challenge Pitching - Learners: 6 or 7 October 2020
i-Gym Innovation Challenge - Live Finals: 9 October 2020
Do not hesitate to contact us regarding any questions at lklassen@cut.ac.za or ideagenerator@cut.ac.za
2019 Student and Staff i-Gym Innovation Challenge winners pitch their ideas
Presentation by Gareth Gericke - Student winner of the 2019 i-Gym Innovation Challenge:
Project: Hydro IT Water Monitor
Presentation by Alan Kinnear - Staff winner of the 2019 i-Gym Innovation Challenge:
Project: Brew Spoon
Entrepreneurship Development Programme 2020 
Fulfill your dream of becoming an entrepreneur!
The CUT I-Gym, CUTis cordially invites you to join our Entrepreneurship Development Programme 2021
Our training will focus on:
- Key aspects of entrepreneurship and business establishment
- Developing your own business plan for funding purposes
To qualify for the programme, you must complete the application form
Entries for 2020 Closed.
Entries for the 2021 Entrepreneurship Development Program: Open
Limited space is available. Application form available on request via email: ideagenerator@cut.ac.za
For more information: email: ideagenerator@cut.ac.za
2020 Entrepreneurship Dialogue
CUT: turning job seekers into job creators
Education in innovation and entrepreneurship has become part of Universities of Technologies (UoTs) with the aim of turning more graduates from job seekers into job creators.
The Idea Generator was officially launched on 31 March 2017, with the intention of introducing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the CUT community.
The Idea Generator offers a developmental hub where students, staff as well as the public, with the assistance of experts and lecturers develop their innovative ideas, projects and products into products that can be commercialised.
Innovative Ideas are the pipeline to CUT units such as PDTS, CRPM, RGEMS, CUTis and the Technology Transfer Office, who are leaders in prototyping, research and business development.
Services
- One-on-one consultations with the Idea Generator Manager
- Presentations from industry professionals
- Demonstrations of new technologies
- Assistance on the pitching process to possible funders or to take part in competitions
- Proposal writing for funding applications
Activities at the IdeaGym
- Product creation seminars
- Developing entrepreneurial skills via a CUT Management Sciences Department developed game
- Lean Iterator sessions to take an idea/project to a business
- Art exhibitions
- Entrepreneurship Dialogues
- Problem-solving challenges
- “Men in Business” / “Women in business” Events
A bi-annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship competition being hosted by the IdeaGym where entrants have the opportunity to present inventions and ideas to a panel of experts. These ideas are channelled through the IdeaGym and other support or academic units at the CUT if possible.
The IdeaGym supports Research Unit for Evolvable and Manumation Systems (RGEMS) in their Sasol Solar Challenge.
Information Share
South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Map
A survey of the support available for entrepreneurs in South Africa was undertaken by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) South Africa chapter in 2015. This infographic below highlights the updated 2017 version of the key findings with interactive buttons to provide a more detailed overview of the support available.
Contact us
E-mail us your ideas: ideagenerator@cut.ac.za
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