DUT to Represent South Africa In The 2024 Urban Innovation Competition
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is set to have a strong representation at the 2024 Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU) Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition scheduled for 30 October 2024 in Guangzhou, China. A team of four entrepreneurs from DUT will be competing in this year’s finals.
Details Of The Competition
Having progressed from a tight semifinal pool, the four business owners are made up of three students and one staff and will set their sights on glory when the competition reaches its zenith in the Far East on 30 October 2024.
In the Concept segment of the competition, Oluhlaza Energy, founded and run by Ms Nompumelelo Ngcobo, a DUT student currently pursuing her Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, and Bio uMhlaba Brick, a brainchild of Dr Farai Dziike, a postdoctoral fellow at DUT formed part of a group of 14 teams that have progressed to the finals.
The other two representatives of the university in the finals competing in the Start-Up Teams category, are Mr Luyanda Majozi, a DUT third-year Textile and Apparel Sciences student and the founder and owner of Enigmatic Cotton and Mr Kimendren Gounden, founder and owner of KG Eco-Engineering, who just recently graduated with his Master of Mechanical Engineering at DUT.
Innovative Green Hydrogen Project
Speaking to the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where she has been under the entrepreneurial incubation programme, Ms Ngcobo of Oluhlaza Energy, whose enterprise focuses on producing green hydrogen from water, described reaching the competition’s finals as their commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
“Our innovative approach to producing green hydrogen from water is a game-changer for the circular economy, and we are proud to be recognised as one of the leaders in sustainable development,” Ms Ngcobo explained.
She further went on to describe Oluhlaza Energy’s journey as having begun with a passion for creating a sustainable way to power the future.
With the competition in full swing, and for the final spots, Ms Ngcobo said that Oluhlaza Energy had headed into the semifinals confident in their unique solution which embodies the principles of sustainability and circular economy.
She added that this opportunity would now open doors to new markets, partnerships, and opportunities, accelerating their impact, while the recognition abroad also reinforced their commitment to sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Setting her sights on the golden prize come 30 October, Ms Ngcobo did not mince her words when spelling out Oluhlaza Energy’s ambition when the competition’s climax came around, boldly stating that their ambition was to win the competition, showcasing their project’s potential to transform the energy landscape.
“We aim to secure partnerships, funding and support to scale our green hydrogen project, driving sustainable development and achieving the SDGs,” Ms Ngcobo explained.
Having recently formed part of a cohort of innobiz DUT incubatees who had graduated from the Centre’s three-year long incubation programme, Ms Ngcobo thanked the Centre for its unwavering support for student entrepreneurs within the University.
“DUT and the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation have been instrumental in our success, providing guidance, resources, and mentorship. Their support has helped us integrate sustainability and the Social Development Goals (SDG) principles into our business model, enabling us to reach new heights,” an ecstatic Ms Ngcobo concluded.
Detailing his journey in the competition, Mr Majozi, founder, and owner of streetwear apparel label Enigmatic Cotton, said that reaching the finals of the 2024 Alliance Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was an exhilarating milestone for him and the brand Enigmatic Cotton.
“It validates our vision of creating a sustainable fashion hub and showcases the impact of our innovative approach to the fashion industry. This achievement means that our efforts to blend sustainability, style, and community empowerment are being recognised on a global platform, giving us the momentum to push further towards our goals.
Opening Doors For Global Collaboration
“For local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), global recognition is crucial as it opens doors to new markets, partnerships, and funding opportunities. It also inspires other local entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and showcases the potential of South African businesses to make a global impact. It’s a chance to highlight our country’s innovation and contribute to sustainable development on a larger scale,” Mr Majozi said.
He also did not hold back on his praise for the work and the support from DUT and the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship in shaping his business, stating that the University and Centre had been instrumental in Enigmatic Cotton’s success.
“Their mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities have helped us refine our business strategy, improve our operations, and scale effectively. The incubation programmes we had participated in provided valuable training and insights that have been crucial in overcoming challenges and leveraging opportunities. Their belief in our vision and continued support has been a cornerstone in reaching the heights we are at today,” Mr Majozi said.
For Mr Kimendren Gounden, of KG Eco-Engineering, reaching the finals has been an incredible honour and a testament to the hard work and dedication that has gone into his enterprise.
“For my enterprise, this achievement indicates a significant milestone. It provides valuable validation and exposure which can open doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and resources. The support and encouragement from my mentors, colleagues, and the innobiz community also boosted my confidence. I was determined to give my best effort and showcase the impact my project could have on urban innovation. The semi-final stage was a crucial moment of reflection and preparation, and I was ecstatic when my efforts were rewarded with a place in the finals,” added Gounden.
He further stated that global recognition was incredibly important for local SMMEs as it provided a platform to showcase local innovations and solutions to a wider audience, opening doors to international collaborations, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
Gounden also hailed the impact of DUT and the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship on his business, describing the impact as transformative, adding that the support had been integral to scaling his business and reaching the heights it is achieving now.
“The resources and mentorship provided by innobiz have been invaluable. Access to guidance, business development programmes, and networking opportunities has significantly enhanced my entrepreneurial skills and strategic thinking,” Mr Gounden detailed.
Dr Farai Dziike, who is making his second foray into the finals of the competition, having competed in the finals held in Padova, Italy, in November 2023, said that scaling such heights once more was significant as it was a stamp of approval from fellow innovators.
Dr Dziike’s Bio uMhlaba Brick, a company using plastic waste and bagasse, ash from sugarcane, to form a building brick instead of the conventional use of cement and water to build bricks.
He said competing on a global level and being presented on a significant platform such as GISU shows that it had a big impact while it would also serve as a solution to local problems as a low costing brick that can be used to build houses in impoverished communities such as informal settlements which were also susceptible to flooding but would be able to withstand flooding, as his brick is made from plastic, therefore hydrophobic, meaning it does not absorb moisture.
“This also shows that DUT has got the potential of doing research that has got a huge impact in society, in the industry and even at policy level in the government. With the DUT support and environment to do that kind of research which translates into innovative technology like this with a huge potential of an IP that can be benchmarked in future for other research associated with waste valorisation you can see that we can solve societal problems through research, and DUT is providing that kind of an environment,” Dr Dziike explained.
He added that through innovative research such as his through innobiz and other technology transfer initiatives in the University they were able to commercialise and realise both business initiatives, revenue streams while at the same time mitigating an environmental and societal problem.
