UVU Bio

We were honoured to host the Department of Small Business Development at our UVU Bio premises in Cape Town, with Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Director-General Thulisile Manzini, and Acting CEO of SEDFA Nkosikhona Mbatha in attendance. The visit highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the bioeconomy, emphasising the importance of collaboration between government, academia, and industry in driving economic growth and delivering sustainable solutions. “Our engagement with the Department of Small Business Development is a powerful testament to the collective potential we have to advance South Africa’s bioeconomy. As we move into the new year, we are energised by the opportunities this collaboration presents to accelerate innovation and enterprise development,” said Dheepak Maharajh, CEO of UVU Bio. Thank you to the Department of Small Business Development for recognising the transformative potential of the local bioeconomy. We look forward to driving meaningful impact in 2025 and beyond. #UVUBio #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Biotech #Collaboration #SABiotech

Ready to scale your biotech startup? UVU Bio’s Business Incubation Programme is launching in the new year to help South African startups accelerate their growth. This programme offers tailored mentorship, technical guidance, and industry connections, all while you retain full equity and IP. Startups in Cape Town gain access to advanced lab facilities, while remote support is available for national participants across South Africa. Open to revenue-generating startups, this is your chance to turn potential into lasting success. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dxYwZh72 #BiotechStartups #UVUBio #BusinessIncubation

Equipping candidates for impactful careers in the bioeconomy is a key focus of our work at UVU Bio. The UVU Bio Fundamentals for Clinical Trials Principles and Practices Programme equips aspiring professionals with the technical and job-readiness skills essential for long-term success in Clinical Trials and Research. We’re proud to celebrate Akhona Doni, a recent graduate of our programme, who has secured a role as a Clinical Trial Quality Control Specialist/CTA at Tread Research through his work placement. Reflecting on his journey, Akhona shared: "I am immensely grateful for the dedication and training received from UVU Bio and Task Academy. As I embark on this new journey, I am committed to contributing my skills and expertise to ensure the success of Clinical Trials."   Congratulations, Akhona! With certifications in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) valid for three years, you are well-prepared to excel in clinical research.   This programme, delivered in collaboration with TASK Research Academy, a leader in clinical research training, and GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini, is designed to create pathways to meaningful careers in Clinical Research while supporting the development of talent for this critical field.   #UVUBio #ClinicalTrials #CareerGrowth #Bioeconomy #TalentDevelopment #SuccessStories

Looking to master Quality Control, Assurance, and Management? Our 4-week programme in Kigali, Rwanda, is designed for professionals eager to excel in modern quality practices. Gain hands-on lab experience, master tools like Lean Six Sigma, and learn to implement quality systems that drive performance and eliminate errors across industries. Whether you’re advancing your career or refining your expertise, this programme will equip you with the skills to turn quality into a competitive advantage. Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/dyUzNf4E #QualityManagement #CareerGrowth #SkillsDevelopment

From Cape Town to Kigali, the UVU Bio team wishes you a fantastic start to the New Year. Our doors officially reopen on 6th January, and we’re excited for another year of driving growth in the bioeconomy. Whether you’re renting lab space or joining our programmes, we’re here to create opportunities, stimulate innovation, and drive positive change across the continent. Here's to 2025! #UVUBio #AfricanBioeconomy #Hello2025

Start your career in the bioeconomy! Cohort 3 of the UVU Bio Introduction to Biotechnology and Bioprocessing programme kicks off in January 2025 in Cape Town. Over the course of four months, you'll gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on lab experience, focusing on vaccine manufacturing. If you’ve completed matric with Maths and Physical or Life Sciences, don’t miss this chance to start your biotech journey! This programme is in partnership with GIZ SA project vaccines for SA. This project focuses on the: roll-out and production in South Africa (SAVax) ensures access to vaccines for all persons living in South Africa and strengthens local vaccine manufacturing and vaccine distribution. Apply now before applications close: https://lnkd.in/eajJigDb #UVUBio #BioTech #SkillsForGrowth

The UVU Bio Bioprocessing Skills Accelerator Programme is designed to equip aspiring professionals with hands-on experience and critical skills to thrive in the bioeconomy. We’re incredibly proud of our candidates, like Nonhlanhla Sithole, who have gained the tools and knowledge to make a meaningful impact in this growing sector. Reflecting on her experience, Nonhlanhla shares: "As a former participant in the UVU Bio Bioprocessing Skills Accelerator Programme, I can personally attest to the value of this opportunity. It’s a fantastic way to gain valuable skills and knowledge in the field of biotechnology." Skills development is essential to advancing the bioeconomy in Africa. If you’re ready to gain practical, industry-relevant experience in bioprocessing, stay tuned — applications for the next cohort will open in the new year! #UVUBio #SkillsDevelopment #Bioeconomy

2024 has been a year of remarkable milestones and growth for UVU Bio, and we’re proud to have achieved these successes alongside our partners and collaborators. This year also marks our 5th anniversary, and we celebrate the journey of innovation and impact that has brought us here. Some of the key highlights of our year include: - Launching the Bioeconomy Skills Centre in Cape Town in May, reinforcing our commitment to developing in-demand industry skills in young, ambitious individuals to support the growing capacity needs of the bioeconomy. - Launching the UVU Bio Bioeconomy Skills Lab in Rwanda, marking a significant step in cementing our physical presence and expanding our impact across East Africa. - Successfully placing our programme graduates into work placements, supporting innovation and career growth. Expanding our team from 9 to 22 to scale up operations and accelerate initiatives in skills development, business incubation, R&D, and more. Our team is now pan-African, with a growing on-the-ground presence in Rwanda driving our work in the region. A huge thank you to the entrepreneurs, scientists, and partners who have trusted us to drive innovation, create opportunities, and bring about positive change in the bioeconomy. Here’s to the milestones of 2024, our 5 years of progress, and the exciting opportunities ahead in 2025! #UVUBio #CapeTown #Rwanda #Biotech #5Years

What better way to finish an exciting 2024 than a fantastic few days in South Africa celebrating a new office opening with our incredible team of Thermo Fisher Scientific colleagues, and forming and expanding upon impactful relationships with our customers and partners.  Kicking off my visit was a wonderful site event in Johannesburg. You can see the happiness as everyone came together to mark this milestone. Our expanded office signifies our growing presence in South Africa and allows us to better support our customers and partners across the region.  During my trip, I had the privilege of meeting some key customers and partners. First, I visited UVU Bio in Cape Town, a non-profit, impact driven organization dedicated to driving innovation in Africa's bioeconomy. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UVU Bio, aiming to amplify initiatives in skills development, business incubation, and resource provision. I also met with Prof. Tulio de Oliveira and team at the CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in Stellenbosch. CERI, a centre of Stellenbosch University, is comprised of scientists, clinicians and public health officials experienced in infectious diseases, public health, genomics, bioinformatics and epidemiology. We are delighted to support CERI in the next phase of their journey, including their close collaboration with KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP).  After announcing our partnership in March, we met again with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in Cape Town to expand our Memorandum of Understanding to include a new partner, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). This expanded collaboration will better serve the growing demand for professional skills development through the upcoming Centre of Excellence under development in Pretoria. A big thank you to our team who made this visit so impactful! 2025 looks full of promise for our colleagues and partners in South Africa and the African continent, and I’m excited to help make this happen.  As we near the close of 2024, I wish you a happy holiday season and an opportunity to rest, recharge and celebrate with loved ones! Dheepak Maharajh, Tulio de Oliveira, Mongezi Mdhluli, Glaudina Loots #Leadership #Innovation #Collaboration #Bioeconomy #PublicHealth #SouthAfrica

Reflecting on the incredible breakthroughs and collaborations of 2024, we’re inspired by the growth and innovation seen at our UVU Bio Bioeconomy Hub in Rwanda, alongside our Cape Town-based UVU Bio Bioeconomy Skills Centre and UVU Bio Lab. These achievements motivate us as we look forward to the opportunities in 2025, with a renewed focus on continuing our mission to be the key enabler of the bioeconomy in Africa through skills development, business incubation, infrastructure facilitation, R&D and ecosystem development. Our offices, labs, and hubs will be closed from 24 December to 6 January for a short break to recharge. We wish you a peaceful and joyful holiday season and look forward to building on our successes in the new year. #UVUBio #Rwanda #CapeTown #SeasonGreeting