UV Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

8
Jaaroorsig • 2007
Jong navorsers het hulle navorsing bekendgestel op ’n navorsingsdag van die Fakulteit Geesteswetenskappe Van links is me. Steffi Cawood, prof. Engela
Pretorius (Visedekaan van die fakulteit), me. Maryna de Wet, me. Nadine Lake en me. Katherine Geldenhuys.
Each cluster is further associated with at least one recognised
NRF Institutional Research Development Program
me (IDRP) Research Niche Area (RNA). Eight RNAs
were approved for the UFS in 2007, the highest number of
all universities in the country. These RNAs encompass 24
NRF-funded research projects, representing a combined
total commitment of almost R30 million to the UFS over
the next five years from 2008 to 2012. The RNAs for the
UFS include:
• Agricultural risk management for Africa
• High throughput identification and characterisation of
biological and bioactive molecules
• Integrated water-resource management
• Local development in arid and semi-arid areas of the
central region of South Africa
• Managing the TB-HIV/AIDS co-epidemic: patient and
systems dimensions
• Nano-solid state lighting
• Polymer blends, composites and nanocomposites (modified
polymers)
• The development of sustainable crop value chains for
staple and underutilised crops in the semi-arid regions of
Southern Africa.
The Cluster Initiative is seen as one of five major in stitutional
mega-projects aiming at repositioning the UFS at a
significantly higher level of academic performance and
stature in five years.
Intellectual property protected
An Intellectual Property (IP) Policy for managing and
direct ing issues relating to intellectual property at the UFS
was approved for implementation. Progress has also been
made with contract research, the marketing of intellectual
pro perty and research commercialisation. A candidate at torney
has been assisting with contract management. The
acting Director for Entrepreneurship and Special Projects
continued his duties during 2007 and a process has been
initiated to appoint a manager to spearhead research commercialisation.
Legal representatives have been contracted
to handle patents for the UFS.