2011-NMMU-Research-Report - Research Management - Nelson ...

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NMMU Research and Innovation Report 2011 - Research Overview
Intellectual Property and
the Commercialisation of
Research (Innovation)
The NMMU continues to drive innovation and technology transfer
by creating awareness of Intellectual Property issues and through
the protection, management and commercialisation of the
NMMU’s Intellectual Property. In 2011, the NMMU awarded the
Innovation and Technology Transfer Award for the first time,
recognising individuals and teams that go beyond research and
transfer research outcomes for societal benefit. The NMMU also
makes a significant contribution to regional innovation.
The following is a brief account of the progress made in 2011.
Innovation projects at various stages of development and from
various disciplines are also highlighted.
Intellectual Property Awareness
Seminars on Intellectual Property are arranged by the Department
of Innovation Support and Technology Transfer to provide staff and
students with information regarding protection of various forms of
Intellectual Property. These seminars are given by patent attorneys
who are also available for consultation by staff and students. There
are no patent attorneys in Port Elizabeth, so patent attorneys come
from Cape Town to provide this service.
Intellectual Property Protection
During 2011, 14 disclosures were received from staff and students
(from 12 in 2010) and eight provisional patent applications were
filed (from five in 2010). Two "international" (Patent Cooperation
Treaty) patent applications were filed. Novelty search reports
received during the Patent Cooperation Treaty phase of the
patenting process were positive, with two patent specifications
receiving "clean" search reports i.e. all the patent claims were
deemed completely novel and completely inventive by the
examiner.
Five design applications were filed for designs on knitwear, and one
trademark application was granted for WeldCore.
Intellectual Property Management
Twenty projects in the pre-commercialisation stage were managed
in 2011, with 75% of these focused around one or more pieces of
registrable Intellectual Property owned by the NMMU. Two projects
have attracted significant late stage research and development
funding to proceed to commercialisation. Forty percent (40%) of
the projects are pending further research, with the balance being
discussed with potential market partners.
Intellectual Property Commercialisation
Three projects have been fully commercialised and the NMMU
continues to be significantly involved in these projects. Two of the
projects, preservation of roses and zinc oxide replacement, have
included the creation of spin-off companies and the NMMU plays a
role in these companies on the Board as well as assisting with advice
on patent strategies. The companies involved in these projects are
African Floralush and Rubber Nano Products, respectively. The third
project involves the licensing of two pieces of software developed
by the Student Counselling Centre of the NMMU. The software has
been licensed to other institutions in South Africa.
Innovation and Technology Transfer Awards
The NMMU’s Innovation and Technology Transfer Awards recognise
those individuals and teams that go beyond research and transfer
research outcomes for societal benefit. This is usually through the
creation of new and improved products, services and processes
and may be through commercialisation (i.e. for commercial gain,
not necessarily by the University) or through social projects.
Society benefits from innovation and technology transfer through
economic development, access to better products and services, or
through new and innovative social projects.
The inaugural award was won by Prof Danie Hattingh and his team
at eNtsa for their work on commercial applications for novel friction
welding technologies. Prof Hattingh and his team have successfully
developed friction processing as an alternative joining and repair
process for different materials and applications.