Innovations

Baobab LIMS is an African-led innovation that was developed as part of the B3Africa consortium. It is an affordable sample and laboratory management tool for biobanking that has been implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which previously (due in part to financial constraints)

Fly ash is a waste by-product generated by coal-fired electricity power stations. Due to its environmental impact, there is a growing need for safe and sustainable methods of fly ash disposal. One effective approach is the beneficiation of fly ash through the production of zeolites—a class of

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that partition preferentially at the interface between fluid phases, such as oil/water or air/water interfaces. Such characteristics confer excellent detergency, emulsifying, foaming, and dispersing traits, which

The Solar Tracker has been developed at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It is an efficient mechanism for positioning a solar collector to track the sun. This device is adept to intermittent adjustment of the position of a solar energy collection surface, ensuring that the surface

The biological sand filtration system is a simple, cost-effective solution used to improve the quality of winery wastewater for reuse (e.g., for beneficial irrigation). The system can operate entirely off-grid using solar panels and gravity for energy. Microbial communities within the system degrade

A novel bioreactor system that uses membranes to create a compartmentalised system where two or more species can be co-cultured without mixing of species, while ensuring rapid exchange of metabolites and proteins between compartments and shared medium composition. The system operates continuously

South Africa's manufacturing sector, particularly in automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and electronics, requires high-precision measurement tools. The proposed Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) addresses this need by offering enhanced accuracy and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional

The Adult Diaper consists of a reusable outer casing and a disposable, biodegradable inner lining that can be easily removed. There is a growing need for affordable, well-designed, and absorbent adult diapers for the elderly market. The cost for individuals or care homes is high, especially in terms

This technology offers a next-generation creatine powder formulated with food-grade components that enable instant mixing in water and long-term shelf stability. When added to liquid, the powder disperses rapidly and forms a clear, grit-free solution within seconds, avoiding the sedimentation and

Acute kidney injury presents as a rapid decrease in renal function and can be caused by severe trauma, illness, surgery or chronic medication, such as the use of antiretroviral treatment. Many assays used in disease detection were developed decades ago, and their performance is lacking. This is the

Some 13,000 ships enter South Africa’s eight ports annually. These ports process some 10,000 containerised loads per day. Many industries rely on imports and exports via the country’s ports, where a safe port environment, with minimal disruptions while loading or offloading cargo, is critical

The CSIR developed a turret that can be used on the Mamba Mk III used by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the turret provides an arc of fire of 360° and offers protection for the gunner from small arms fire. The SANDF requirement was for the