The Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has launched the Medical Device Additive Manufacturing Technology Demonstrator Project (MedAdd) at the Central University of Technology (CUT)’s Bloemfontein campus.
Additive manufacturing, better known as “3D printing”, is one of the technologies used in advanced manufacturing and is considered a cornerstone of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Developed at a cost of R97-million, the project is expected to significantly reduce South Africa’s reliance on costly imported medical devices for people living with disabilities.
According to the CUT, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) funded the project through its entity, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), which provides technical support to small and medium enterprises affiliated to a technology station at the university.
The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at the CUT has been doing ground-breaking work over the years in 3D design, development and manufacturing of medical devices.
This, according to the institution, has made the CUT a leading South African university in the sector to produce customised medical implants.
DSI acting deputy director-general Dr Rebecca Maserumule said the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of African countries proactively investing in medical research and health innovation.
“One of the areas that we have identified for the purpose of enhancing the impact of science in society, is the area of health innovation,” said Maserumule during the launch.
“Our overall objective in this space is to help grow the health economy by providing locally developed and relevant diagnostics and medical devices with the view to boost the manufacturing thereof.
“More specifically, we seek to enhance our existing capacity to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices to address the disease burden while ensuring security and sustainable supply of essential therapeutics and prophylactics.”
MedAdd is available for small companies to industrialise new products, de-risking their innovative development before fully-fledged commercialisation.
In addition, students, researchers and industry personnel will be able to develop the required skills for the development of this new technology and new industry.
CUT council chairperson Mathew Rantso said from 2015 to date, more than 1 000 patients were assisted through the support of state and private hospitals, the expertise of CRPM and funding from DSI, TIA and other strategic partners.
“This project has brought the university’s centre and industry together in planning and investing resources in a collaborative manner which is a big plus for the university,” said Rantso.
“From a product development point of view this is an opportunity for CUT, business, industry through government to create African solutions for African challenges . . .”
CUT’s acting vice-chancellor and principal Professor Alfred Ngowi said the MedAdd project has successfully bridged the innovation gap for medical device companies by bringing out the advantages that additive manufacturing brings to the manufacturing industry.
“We anticipate many more fruitful years of collaboration that will help us to maximise stronger partnerships with the department and TIA as the investment to the university was well spent on projects that have brought about innovative solutions to the region while changing the lives of ordinary people,” said Ngowi. – Staff Reporter