CUT Annual Report 2015

A number of events were hosted that promoted partnerships, such as a seminar on the quad-helix partnership concept, and high-level meetings
with government, higher education stakeholders and the broader society. The internet and local media resources were also utilised to enhance
partnerships and promote a spirit of collaboration. For the reporting period, RIFFS/CUT established notable partnerships with the following
stakeholders: Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affair (DESTEA); Free State Department
of Health (FSDoH); Free State Premier’s Office; Mangaung Metro (MM); International Labour Organisation (ILO); Flanders Government; UFS
(Research, Innovation and Postgraduate School); the Free State Development Corporation (FDC); the Mangaung Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MCCI); the National Empowerment Fund (NEF); ABSA; the Da Vinci Institute; Oos Vrystaat Kaap Bedryf Beperk (OVK); and the
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Sections within CUT that were instrumental in making these efforts a success were the Office of Research
and Innovation, the CUT Hotel School, the Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) and the CRPM.
As indicated above, the value of the 499 projects completed at the CRPM during 2015 was R4 357 924, which was a decrease of 4.7% compared to
that of 2014 (a project value of R4 562 838). Approximately 4 000 parts were manufactured for the 499 industrial and research projects. Furthermore,
a total of R572 860 was spent on 52 research projects, compared to R350 530, which were spent on research projects during 2014. The CRPM
was successful in three applications (with a total value of R1 215 000) for TIA Seed Funding. The PDTS is currently running smoothly, and most of
the targets for the financial year were already achieved. The PDTS received feedback from the annual Monitoring and Evaluation Session by TIA.
Since its inception, the CRPM has continued to create a significant impression countrywide. In 2015, the CPRM, in partnership with a team of
three doctors from the Free State Central region; Materialise (Belgium); Technimark; Stellenbosch University; and the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), put a smile on many patients’ faces that were deformed. Recently, the doctors, Kobus Hoek (Bloemfontein); Phillip
Jonsson (Kimberley) and Prof. Cules van den Heever performed another corrective prostheses surgery on a Kimberley patient, removing a
tumour and restoring the proper functioning and aesthetics of the mouth, face and jaw using Additive Manufacturing technology. This operation
was the second of its kind in the country.
With respect to the 2015/2016 financial year, three innovation projects, with a total value of R1,146 million, were approved for funding by the TIA.
This is in addition to the four projects that were initially approved for funding to the value of R1,46 million for the 2014/2015 financial year.
A contract worth R6,272 million, which is to run over two and a half years, was signed with the CSIR, for CUT’s contribution to this national
programme. The DST’s Research and Development Programme is currently funding three projects, namely Qualification of Additive Manufacturing
of Ti6Al4V for Medical Implants and Aerospace Components; Design for Additive Manufacturing; and Polymer Additive Manufacturing. CUT is the
national leader of the first project, and a participant in the other two projects.
In 2015, four spin-off companies emerged from amongst the staff and students. Through project initiatives by CUT Innovation Services (CUTIS),
a company called AddColour (a software application company) was established. Through CUTIS’ partnership with MerSETA, AddColour has
developed two customised software applications for MerSETA. Another pair of students, in partnership with one of CUT’s lecturers, established
a company called Softbrain. The innovation behind this company emanates from a master’s research project in IT. The technology developed
within the broad field of the Internet of Things (IoT) will go a long way towards helping organisations to manage their assets, as it has the
capacity to track asset movements. Two businesses spun out from the CUT Incubator during 2015, namely Silver Flame Trading, which opened
an information and communication technology (ICT) shop in the Middestad Centre here in Bloemfontein, and Tamikk Fatuku Sterilizer, which
established a factory in Bultfontein. CUT want more and more of the institution’s students to do the same in the near future, not by default, but by
design through a well-conceptualised and delivered entrepreneurship education programme.
CUT ANNUAL REPORT 2015
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