Stellenbosch University (SU) has announced the opening of LaunchLab CERI Bio, a biotechnology incubator for startups. This facility is an extension of the LaunchLab’s services offered to entrepreneurs.[M[1] This bold initiative aims to accelerate the local biotechnology sector, bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. The lab has been specifically designed to provide entrepreneurs [M[2] with the necessary equipment and incubation support to commercialise their biotech research.
Biotechnology has the potential to solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges ranging from health, food security and the development of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Among SU’s current 35 spinout companies, 10 are in the biotechnology sector. Innovus Technology Transfer Office and LaunchLab have successfully incubated five biotech spinouts – Immobazyme, Urobo Biotech, Biocode, Phagoflux and Fluorobiotech. During the incubation of these companies two critical barriers were identified: the high costs of material as well as laboratory infrastructure. Unlike traditional academic or government biotech facilities, the LaunchLab CERI Bio aims to solve this challenge by providing entrepreneurs with affordable [M[3] state-of-the-art laboratory space, equipment and specialised business support to help scale their biotech ventures. The facility is a strategic investment to boost Africa’s biotech ecosystem and attract more investment into deep tech ventures.
“We have an incredible research foundation at Stellenbosch University and in South Africa in general. However, we lack biotech laboratory incubators that can move our world-class science to products”. Comment Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, Director of CERI, he continue: “During the pandemic, we lead the world in the discovery of variants and clinical trials but we were in the back of the queue to access diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. That is one of the reasons why we are investing in LaunchLab CERI BIO, so SA can also start leading the world in the production of biotechnology products that save lives and advance livelihoods”.
The commercialisation of deep tech startups has a high impact potential, specifically in Africa, because the continent has less resources compared to the rest of the world. Despite South Africa’s thriving startup ecosystem, too much of the investment and activity is concentrated in software, fintech, and consumer-driven sectors with a much faster time to market. It is almost crucial therefore, that universities participate in ecosystem conversations to advocate for increased infrastructure and investment flow into science-based ventures with high commercial and global impact potential. Anita Nel, Chief Director of Innovation and Commercialisation, established the LaunchLab in 2015 with the strategic foresight to create a space that would simultaneously provide business incubation and become a hub for commercial activity and collaboration exchange between university spinouts and the broader business ecosystem. This model is now a proven success exemplified by successful ventures such as CubeSpace, an aerospace spinout company now on its way to becoming Africa’s first university spinout unicorn.
Situated next to the LaunchLab CERI Bio, the LaunchLab head office will continue hosting various ecosystem events and programmes in collaboration with Stellenbosch Network and the Innovus Technology Transfer Office. These activities hope to drive local investor support, and the LaunchLab CERI Bio will add another layer of depth to this ecosystem by attracting global investors and stakeholders who are keen to collaborate.
LaunchLab CERI Bio will be co-managed by SU biotech spinout Fluorobiotech in accordance with an agreed SLA between them and Innovus at Stellenbosch University. The biotech incubator space will also host two othwe spinout companies from Stellenbosch University, Biocode and Phagoflux but space already exist for new ventures and companies.