INVESTORS Catalyst Innovation Incubator (Pty) Ltd and Deloitte & Touche have teamed up again to present the Catalyst Innovation Competition, inviting young scientists from around the country to enter their commercialisable innovations.
The competition, the first of its kind in South Africa, focuses on entrepreneurship at universities and is open to all students in the health science, science and engineering faculties at universities throughout the country. Finalists not only pocket a handsome windfall, but also get to present their technology and business plans to a panel of judges in September.
A first prize to the tune of R35 000 will make it into the bank account of one lucky student, while second and third prizes of R25 000 and R15 000, respectively, are also up for grabs. In addition, the other seven students who make it into the event's second round will each earn themselves a handy R2 000.
In preparation, Catalyst Innovation and Deloitte & Touche will host a series of free workshops at universities in May, assisting scientists to develop and commercialise innovative technologies. These will be held at Wits University on May 8 for students from Wits, the Rand Afrikaans University and the University of Potchefstroom; at Pretoria University on May 9 for Tukkies and Medunsa students; the University of Natal on May 15; and the University of Port Elizabeth on May 22.
Submission deadline for the competition is August 26. Following the competition's first round, 10 finalists will be selected to present their innovations to a panel of judges in Johannesburg at the end of September.
More information about the competition and the workshops is available from Catalyst Innovation at
info@catalystii.net, via their website at www.catalystii.net or at telephone number (021) 423-6940.