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Yesterday, September 18, 2025, the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), the LaunchLab, Stellenbosch Network and Innovus at Stellenbosch University welcomed a vibrant gathering of innovators at the inaugural Cape HealthTech Connect event at BMRI, Tygerberg campus.

By Katrine Anker-Nilssen

Attendees enjoyed a day filled with inspiration as a new platform was created to unite researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, and industry partners, all aimed at enriching the HealthTech ecosystem in the Western Cape for a broader impact.

First Cape HealthTech Connect was hosted by CERI at Stellenbosch University

In his opening keynote, Prof Tulio de Oliveira outlined the lessons learned from the pandemic, stressing that merely excelling in science is not enough. 'We must change this paradigm. We need to be leaders not only in ideas, but also in production. Collaboration is essential,' he asserted. As the director of Stellenbosch University’s CERI – home to Africa’s largest biomedical and genomics facilities – he emphasised the ethical imperative of enhancing capacity development, highlighting initiatives like the African STARS Fellowship, developed in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. He called for proactive leadership in the development of biological countermeasures – including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.

Why is the Western Cape a focal point for biotech and health tech? Prof Tulio noted the region's world-class universities, well-governed cities, access to capital, and a robust entrepreneurial spirit, declaring it 'the ideal environment for cultivating Africa’s biotech industry.' He urged participants to facilitate the commercialisation of biomedical science and nurture a collaborative ecosystem: 'Let’s shift our focus from competition to responsiveness.' He also highlighted that this is not a vision for the future but that commercialisation of biotech is already happening with LaunchLab CERI BIO. This is the biotech incubator and accelerator in Stellenbosch, advancing ten biotech companies – many of which are already employing dozens of people and have products in the market.

Prof Tulio de Oliveira, director of CERI delivers the keynote on why the Western Cape is the perfect place to develop biotech.

The first panel discussion, moderated by Mandi Swanepoel from Wesgro, tackled the theme, 'From Lab to Market in South Africa: Scaling Health Innovations for Africa and the World.' Panellists, including Dominic Nicholas from Immobazyme, Prof Sudesh Sivarasu from the Bioengineering department of University of Cape Town (UCT), Eugene Smit from Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company, and Prof Petro Terblanche from Afrigen, shared their transformative journeys from concept to reality.

Prof Petro articulated a clear mission: 'We were established not simply to develop a product, but to fulfil a purpose: localising vaccine production. Our motivation stems from the need for affordable, accessible vaccines for low-income countries.' Dominic resonated with this vision, noting his goal to move drug production to Africa, reflecting, 'All drugs in Africa were imported; we wanted to change that. This mission drives us daily, and our greatest asset is our dedicated team.'

Prof Sudesh shared valuable insights on the iterative nature of MedTech innovation: 'We took a bold leap with our first device for stroke patients. While it didn’t succeed, we learned immensely. The key is involving decision-makers, like clinicians, from the outset, and always focusing on the end-user.' Eugene highlighted the complexity of transitioning lab innovations to market-ready solutions: 'The technical development can be straightforward; the challenge lies in effective commercialisation.'

Following the panel discussions, attendees were treated to four exciting pitches that showcased groundbreaking innovations. Khaya HealthTech’s Joel Philpott introduced a promising device for sleep apnoea, while Prof Novel Chegou from Stellenbosch University introduced his company – which is working with LaunchLab CERI BIO to bring a biomarker-based point-of-care TB test to the market. Tegan van der Merwe presented PhagoFlux’s innovative test for monitoring cellular health, and Louise Fourie showcased an AI-driven tool from Oncolign designed to personalise oncological treatments.

Dr Ross, COO of Fluoriobiotech deliver one of the pitches.

The second panel, 'Global HealthTech Trends and Local Relevance: Are We Keeping Up or Outpacing?' was moderated by Maambele Khosa from CERI and featured insights from Dr Ross Rayne Vermeulen of Fluorobiotech, Dirk Wagener of Stone Three, Dr Kirsten Miller-Duys from Hyrax Bio, and Kingstone Nihaka of Plasmigene.

Kirsten emphasised the necessity of adapting technologies for rural African clinics: 'The shift towards point-of-care diagnostics is crucial. Our solutions must be resilient against heat and power outages.' Dirk raised the question of customising AI: 'How can we leverage our unique skills to tailor AI models for our specific needs?' Kingstone remarked on the importance of data in AI's effectiveness, warning against increasing disparities if local contributions are lacking. 'We need a robust strategy for harnessing AI effectively,' he stressed. Ross concluded, 'We often reference foreign models; it's time to embrace our local context. We can’t afford to do a five-step process to create a product. We do it in three steps. We need to operate efficiently and take pride in our resilience.'

The Cape Healthtech 2025 hosted 50 companies and 150 participants.

The excitement carried forward with pitches from pioneering researchers and spinouts. John Paul Makumbi from MicroBiome Solutions is developing a single test for the early detection of chronic diseases, while Amohetsoe Shale works on an affordable polycentric prosthetic knee. Dr Ross Rayne Vermeulen explores the potential of mRNA vaccines, and Simone Turner from Biocode Technologies has introduced an innovative microclot blood test for detecting hidden vascular damage – potentially benefiting long COVID patients.

The event represented a dynamic assembly of talent focused on shaping Africa’s health future, with notable attendance from the African STARS Fellowship. Kennedy Mulungu expressed his enthusiasm: 'It was an honour to attend this event, witnessing over 50 HealthTech companies and startups come together to foster connections and advancements in African healthcare. The relationships I formed here highlight the immense potential for collaborative impact in this vibrant ecosystem.'

In closing, Brandon Paschal energised attendees with a call-to-action: 'We are leapfrogging into the future! It’s imperative to showcase the groundbreaking work emerging from Cape Town’s health innovation sector.' With 120 tickets sold and 150 attendees present, it was evident that a strong demand for collaborative HealthTech innovation exists. 'Today was about building momentum for our initiatives, and I’m eager to see where this journey leads us,' said Brandon.

Hanli Brink from Stellenbosch Network echoed the event’s success: 'This idea was inspired by our previous AgriTech Connect event. It’s exhilarating to gather entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, funders, and healthcare leaders in one space to share knowledge and collaborate. I can’t wait to see what the next one brings.'

African STARS Fellows prepare their pitch in front of media.

News date: 2025-09-19

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