Nelson Mandela University’s InnoVenton recently celebrated 20 years of turning dreams into reality and innovations and creativity into real-world solutions, and 2025 is proving to be a project-packed year for the institute.
InnoVenton acting director Louise Hamilton said the institute had celebrated two decades of offering services to empower industry clients, SMEs, students and student entrepreneurs, with more projects under way.
“InnoVenton is where we dream, innovate and create, helping ideas become real-world solutions.
“Our general testing services offer problem solving and analysis for local companies who need support in this area.
“Formal training, short courses, workshops, and technology support form the foundation of our engagement interactions.”
In 2025, there is a new slate of innovative research and, with support from the national Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), InnoVenton is bringing this one step closer to commercialisation.
Some of the projects under way include:
- Product and process development: entrepreneurs use InnoVenton’s pilot scale facility to test their products;
- Cosmetic formulation development and improvement: clients are assisted with improving formulations for body lotions and face creams, using various ingredients;
- Pilot scale prototype manufacturing facility for emulsions for cosmetic formulations, to bridge the gap between lab scale work and 4,500L contract manufacturing;
- A graduate internship programme;
- Synthesis of agrichemical intermediates for food security; and
- Investigating fluorochemicals manufacturing and downstream chemical synthesis applications.
TIA Technology Stations Programme head Vusi Skosana said the Technology Stations Programme (TSP) was established to enable universities to provide technology development services to small and medium enterprises.
“InnoVenton is one of our oldest partners in this programme and we celebrate this 20-year milestone with pride as we have seen the impact of this partnership,” Skosana said.
“Some of the main objectives of TSP are to provide vital infrastructure and expertise to support enterprise development within the innovation landscape.
“This has served as a bridge between academic theory and experiential training for students to practically apply the knowledge acquired.”
NMU deputy vice-chancellor for research, innovation and internationalisation, Prof Azwinndini Muronga, said the work conducted at InnoVenton was science for society.
“The end goal is to make a tangible socioeconomic impact that supports local, regional and national priorities.”
Muronga paid tribute to the “mastermind” behind InnoVenton, the late Prof Ben Zeelie, and the institute’s contribution to the innovation space, saying that he looked forward to the next 20 years.
The Herald
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