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Dream. Innovate. Create.

NMMU Institute for Chemical Technology and
Downstream Chemicals Technology Station

InnoVenton: Institute for Chemical Technology is a formally registered Research Institute at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, whose principle research focus is Applied Chemistry in Product and Process Development. The Institute strives to be self sustaining through income generated from services to industry, income from technology transfer projects and royalties from patents.

The Institute incorporates the Downstream Chemicals Technology Station, a Government funded initiative to make available high level research, technological services and training, to technology based Small and Medium Enterprises, and South African Industry as a whole.

As a fully integrated university research institute, InnoVenton’s three main Key Performance Areas are:

• Research & Development
• Teaching & Learning and
• Services & Engagement
  

Research & Development

The overall goal of establishing and sustaining a product and process development R&D effort, that will be capable of making a significant contribution to the downstream chemical industry through the development of skilled manpower and internationally competitive products and production processes, forms the underlying thrust of InnoVenton’s research and development activity.

Of special interest is the continual development of its key technological enabling strategies namely:

• Small production platforms (including micro-structured reactor technologies) and
• New product development

InnoVenton will strive to grow and strengthen its two main enabling strategies by deliberate focusing of student R&D projects within InnoVenton-linked T&L programmes, namely the BSc Hons (Formulation Science) and the MTech (Product & Process Development).

The current major projects within InnoVenton are:

• Program 1: Production of high purity silicon for the semi-conductor and solar cell industries (using continuous flow reactor technologies);
  
• Program 2: Production of micro-algae in closed photo-bioreactors at semi-technical scales for the production of biofuels and energy;
  
• Program 3: Direct liquefaction of microalgae biomass into biofuels using continuous flow reactor technologies;
  
• Program 4: Development and evaluation of new plasticising compounds for the personal care/cosmetics market.

Teaching & Learning

The Institute also provides relevant professional/skills training programs to individuals and industries in the chemical and allied industries sector to partly assist in addressing skills shortages created by the rapid skills changes experienced in modern economies.

Services & Engagement

InnoVenton’s external services include analytical & testing services, technology support services, contract R&D services, technology demonstration (Kilo Lab) services, short learning program offerings, and quality services.