Page 157 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Area within the manufacturing cluster due to their that can enable technology development, testing,
ISO13485 certification and extensive experience in registration, manufacturing and commercialisation.
medical device and diagnostic development. It is MeDDIC issued an open call requesting information
aimed at assisting local companies, entrepreneurs, from local service providers operating in this arena
and higher education institutions to understand and throughout the product development life cycle and
manage the medical device product development received more than 50 responses. These service
process, particularly as it relates to regulations. providers were invited to present an overview of
This programme was provided with additional their services to stakeholders during a 3-day online
funds in 2023/24 to continue providing assistance event and will be listed on the MeDDIC portal.
with the regulatory approval process, including GHIA and MeDDIC subsequently launched a
product development in the context of ISO13485, request for applications to support medical device
classification and identification of medical devices and diagnostics projects funded by the SAMRC
and related standards. To date, the programme has towards commercialisation by providing access to
supported 17 companies. One of the companies such technical and advisory support to move their
supported by MeDDIC and this programme received technologies towards market entry. Awards for this
follow-on funding from the IDC valued at just under will be made in 2024.
R7 million.
SAMRC-TIA Seed Fund
The MeDDIC online platform, launched in February
2023, leverages the national Innovation Bridge The SAMRC is an implementing partner for the
Portal, an initiative of the DSI, developed by the CSIR Technology Innovation Agency’s national seed fund
and supported by the World Bank Group and the programme. In addition, the SAMRC and TIA are co-
Department of Small Business Development, which funding a specific seed fund programme for medical
is aimed at showcasing technology innovations devices and diagnostics. The purpose of these seed
and opportunities from South Africa and beyond. funds is to assist in bridging financial requirements
The dedicated medical devices portal within the that translate research outputs into fundable ideas
Innovation Bridge is aimed at: for further development. The following highlights
were achieved during the 2023/24 financial year:
• Providing information on the medical devices
sector, including manufacturers, products, A provisional patent application was filed for a
innovators, development expertise, and support device which reduces kinking of IV tubing. Kinking
services; poses a significant risk to patients as it can lead to
• Increasing awareness of the players, capabilities blockage of critical drugs, which can lead to blood
and expertise in the medical devices and clotting. This device ensures that the critical portion
diagnostics sector in South Africa; of the IV tubing does not kink.
• Highlighting funding, partnering and licensing
opportunities; Human Capacity Development. One postdoctoral
• Showcasing locally manufactured products and candidate and four PhD candidates were trained
during Financial year 2023/24 on various scientific
new innovations in development; and
• Facilitating stakeholder linkages and promoting techniques under 5 different seed fund projects.
increased collaboration in the sector. One of these projects undertaken by the University
of the Witwatersrand additionally attracted a
While the platform was launched under the auspices parliamentary grant for human capital development
of MeDDIC, the development of the portal was valued at R1 million.
funded by a grant from the BMGF to GHIA.
Provision of local medical devices and diagnostics
Medical Devices and Diagnostics Technical to national hospitals. A seed fund grantee was
Support Platform. A new initiative in 2023/24 awarded a 5-year contract with the Free State
was the establishment of a Medical Devices and Department of Health to supply and deliver a
Diagnostics Technical Support Platform to assist in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system
bridging the gap between the identified need for in all South African national hospitals effective from
technical support by medical device and diagnostics 2023 to 2027. The grantee was awarded seed funding
developers and innovators and access to the to complete clinical trials and update the designs for
relevant resources, capabilities and infrastructure the locally manufactured NPWT with an innovative

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