ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

28 September 2020

Biodurban To Transform Durban Into the Biotech Capital Of Africa

BioDurban, a biotech incubation initiative between the eThekwini Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Research, Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), has created an exciting new space for bio-innovation and the much-needed translation of science and local biodiversity into commercially viable products for the socioeconomic benefit of the wider community. 

“South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal’s rich biodiversity combined with the scientific excellence and world-class infrastructure found within the Higher Education Institutions in Durban, creates the perfect foundation to grow Durban as the biotech capital of Africa,” said Professor Tulio de Oliveira, director of KRISP. 

A call has been released, inviting individuals or teams with scientific ideas that have the potential to deliver innovations for diagnosis of infectious diseases and therapeutics, to apply for a project grant of up to R300 000. This funding is offered to enable scientists to conduct critical, value-adding experiments to de-risk early stage projects and to help advance their ideas to market. The opportunity is also open to innovators from indigenous knowledge systems. The deadline for these applications is 18h00 on the 21st of October 2020.

Gugulethu Mkhize, group lead for the KRISP Business Development Unit added that, “BioDurban extends its invitation to interested members of society and organisations, who have value-add in terms of expert knowledge and experience; to get involved in the initiative and contribute advice and mentorship to the cohort of innovators that will be selected.”

Through a capacity-building program, BioDurban will link academic, government and private entities in order to perform translational research and innovation. The long-term goal of this initiative is to incubate start-up and small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) companies in the health, agricultural and industrial biotechnology sectors. 

Dr Ajiv Maharaj, Deputy Head, eThekwini Municipality, Economic Development Unit says that the City is proud to partner with KRISP for the BioDurban Incubator. “We see value in the generation of new biotechnology start-ups that will be created through the Spark Acceleration Programme and the local job potential. 

The work being done by Prof Tulio De Oliveria and his colleagues is truly world-class and will continue to put Durban and the forefront of global innovation,” he added.

A dynamic and innovative environment will be created that will enable development of entrepreneurial skills for scientists. Key intended outcomes of BioDurban: 



• Increase in the development of new innovative technologies from publicly funded research. 

• Building capacity for translation of research. 

• Contribute efficient, cost-effective and innovative approaches for development of indigenous knowledge systems into clinical products. 

• Contribution towards economic growth 

• The positioning of Durban as the biotech capital of Africa



As part of the BioDurban Program, the SPARK South Africa Innovation Breakfasts will commence again in October 2020 and are scheduled to take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 07h30. This webinar is open to the public and will cover a range of scientific and entrepreneurial topics. To RSVP to the first breakfast and join the mailing list please follow the link provided:

https://forms.gle/UYDsWYizspSvFsRu7

For more information please visit www.biodurban.org OR www.krisp.org.za OR Contact: Paul Harris (KRISP Communications Officer), paul@htagmedia.co.za , +27 82 806 6290

ENDS 

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit.