Other sectors benefit from the government`s efforts to make inventors into successful entrepreneurs through the National Innovation Competition.

A device for testing high-voltage power lines without interrupting the supply and a solar-powered submersible pump won their developers half a million rand between them to commercialise their ideas. But IT projects are thin on the ground among the winners at the National Innovation Competition.

The competition hopes to promote the economic competitiveness of SA on the global stage, and is aimed at higher education students. It offers prize money for the top three finalists to help develop ideas into tangible products and services.