Acorn Technologies Hellfire Launch Lights up the Life
Science Sector
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Dr. Charles Wyeth,
CEO of Godisa Trust |
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Mr. Tshepo Motloung,
DST |
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Ms. Charlotte Scholtz,
Genecare Intern |
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Mr. Saberi Marais,
MRC Intern |
Acorn Technologies’ Hellfire Internship Programme
was launched in September 2005 at the Kirstenbosch Gardens,
Cape Town. Godisa CEO Charles Wyeth, Department of Science
and Technology representative Tshepo Motloung, a number
of interns, the press, and various life science firms totalling
110 people attended this exciting launch.
Hellfire is mainly funded by the Godisa Trust, now the
Seda Technology Programme, and Acorn Technologies, and
the occasion also celebrated the programme’s success
with thirteen science graduates having been placed as interns
in medical device and life science companies since August
2005.
“Hellfire ensures Acorn Technologies continues
to encourage innovation in the life sciences, creating
and sustaining SMME’s through the development of
its scarce and valuable resource, its human capital,” said
Wyeth.
“South Africa has a high rate of unemployment
and life-science graduates usually fail to get jobs because
they lack the skill and the knowledge the job requires,” said
Kefiloe Monageng, a Cape Biotech intern. “Hellfire
is therefore specifically designed to provide business
and technical skills to life-science graduates.”
With Hellfire interns are placed at different companies
around the Western Cape, where they will acquire project
management and research skills, as well gain experience
in clinical trials, marketing and the drug approval process.
Acorn Technologies has provided a platform for scientist,
to take research out of the laboratory to the stages of
commercialisation. Interns will also be attending business
courses offered by WITS Business School, to assist with
developing the skills to bridge the gap between science
and the business prospects science provides.
Sustainable partnerships
Creating and sustaining formal and informal networks are
key for growing the life science sector and through Hellfire,
Acorn Technologies is able to facilitate this process.
The various courses, support services to host companies,
mentors and interns are examples of how networks are encouraged
and sustained.
Hellfire has had its first mentorship workshop for mentors
and interns have had their first social and leadership
training, with Learn to Lead. Hellfire therefore ensures
that all parties in the program are equipped with the necessary
skills to accelerated learning and appropriate transfer
of skills.
The mentorship workshop provided a foundation for the
various mentors of interns to acquire skills and knowledge
to create a healthy environment of learning, for the intern
and mentor. The workshop has provided informal support
structures for the mentors and encouraged businesses to
increase and utilise their value net, increasing the value
proposition offered to the industry as a whole.
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| Mr. Andy Byskup from Drumkids collecting
his cap |
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| Networking taking place at the
Hellfire Launch |
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Mr. Craig Landsberg and Ms. Rahima
Loghdey from Acorn Technologies with
Mr. Nick Allen, Phakimasane Venture Capital and Mrs.
Christina Guberman,
Genecare (Hellfire Mentor) |
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| Interns and Andrea Kline, Learn
to Lead |
