Sponsored Content / Thaaqib Daniels5 April 2024 | 7:44

The Department of Science and Innovation is unlocking health innovations through partnership

The Department of Science and Innovation is unlocking health innovations through partnership

South Africa's Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is playing a key role in growing local businesses through innovation and access to vital services and data.

Key to this is the Innovation Bridge portal, a platform created by the DSI in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development.

Innovation Bridge allows investors, entrepreneurs and innovators to work together to develop and realise innovations that could transform South Africa's economy.

Click here to join Innovation Bridge Portal today.

"At the DSI, we understand there is no shortage of remarkable ideas or people.  We enable local innovations to scale for business, drive efficiencies, improve speed to market, reduce costs, and support the needs of society," said the DSI. 

Enabling health innovation

Innovation in the healthcare sector is one of the biggest focuses of the DSI.

Meaningful partnerships and relationships can facilitate transformative projects like nuclear medicine research, drug development, vaccine manufacturing, and product development based on indigenous knowledge.

To support innovative South Africans in building projects and businesses that achieve these goals, Innovation Bridge has partnered with several prominent organisations.

NuMeRI

The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure is an imaging and therapeutic facility that diagnoses and treats diseases such as cancer, infections, and heart disease early.

It forms part of the Department's South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap and enables the DSI to provide important technologies to public and private hospitals.

These entities work together to equip local and international universities, pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies, and medical practitioners with the research and innovation needed to grow the health industry.  This support is also extended to Innovation Bridge members.

DIPLOMICS

Distributed Platform in Omics (DIPLOMICS) is a national research infrastructure that was established to build and support world-class omics research laboratories in South Africa.  

Its facilities support students and researchers in omics sciences (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics) through laboratory infrastructure, technician training, and access to omics data.

This, in turn, supports industries that enable human health, as well as the conservation of plants, animals, agriculture and biodiversity.  

All of this is done through a central portal, hosted by the DSI, that delivers key omics resources.

DIPLOMICS has partnered with Innovation Bridge to extend its resources to entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Biovac

Biovac is a bio-pharmaceutical company in Cape Town that is re-establishing local vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

This will reduce South Africa's dependence on imported vaccines while strengthening national health management and security.

The DSI works with Biovac and other pharmaceutical companies through public and private partnerships to research and develop vaccines locally.  Through the Innovation Bridge, the Department will extend its support to local entrepreneurs in the health sector.

The Indigenous Knowledge Programme

Fundamental to innovation and growth in the health sector is unlocking indigenous knowledge, which is why the DSI partners with the Indigenous Knowledge Programme.

This programme assists entrepreneurs who wish to unlock the value of indigenous plant species for commercial development, while also safeguarding traditional knowledge.

Click here to join Innovation Bridge Portal today.