Page 100 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

Research Awards
UNIZULU’s proud tradition of institutional research recognition activities was disrupted by the national COVID-19 lockdown. Research awards have not taken place in 2020.The Research and Innovation Office was working on the portfolio on the award categories that should have been finalised after graduation ceremonies in December 2020. However, with key personnel adversely affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 lockdown, the office is yet to receive a confirmed programme from institutional stakeholders.
NIPMO Innovation Promotion Award
The UNIZULU Innovation Promotion Support Team obtained first prize at the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO)-funded Innovation Bridge nationally in the previous national competition.
FUNDING ALLOCATIONS
NRF (2020)
NRF awarded a total amount of R33 143 364.63 in the 2020 financial year towards scholarships and individual research grants. Below is a breakdown by investment area:
Table 22: NRF Research Funding Awards
UNIZULU claimed 100% of the funding that was awarded and released by NRF.
To date, NRF released a mere R345 365.00 for the 2021 financial year towards scholarships and individual research grants. Below is a breakdown by investment area of released grants:
Table 23: NRF Scholarship Awards
INVESTMENT AREA
AWARD (RELEASED)
Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development
R100 000
International Relations and Cooperation
R45 365
Research Chairs and Centres of Excellence
R200 000
Strategic Knowledge Fields
-
Strategic Platforms
-
Total
It is important to note that most of the grants are still not released by NRF because they are awaiting annual audit reports for 2020 funded projects (the due date is 28 February 2021). Therefore, the actual awards cannot be reported on. Furthermore, NRF is also awaiting signed conditions of grants for new 2021 grants.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
This portfolio encompasses aspects of intellectual property compliance and management administration, including technology transfer, innovation promotion, and a commercialisation drive, IP disclosures, patents registration and administration processes, seed-funding initiatives, as well as related awareness campaigns, capacity development, institutional and national reporting.
Funded Innovative Projects
Tables 24-27 provides an overview of different funding projects during the year under review.
INVESTMENT AREA
AWARD
Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development
R24 740 500.00
International Relations and Cooperation
R1 086 084.00
Research Chairs and Centres of Excellence
R4 217 680.63
Strategic Knowledge Fields
R3 045 100.00
Strategic Platforms
R54 000.00
Total
R33 143 364.63
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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