Prof Louis Kotze, research professor of Law at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, was nominated for two awards. He was in the running for the TW Kambule-NSTF Award for research and its outputs and for the NSTF-Greenmatter Award towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy.

Prof Louis is currently at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom, where he is a visiting professor of environmental law in tandem with his NWU position. He is the author and co-editor of over 90 publications on themes related to South African, regional and global environmental law.

Prof Wilma Viviers, director of the Trade and Development (TRADE) research focus area on the  Potchefstroom Campus, was nominated for her outstanding contribution as an individual to science, engineering, technology and innovation in South Africa over the past five to 10 years.

She is the World Trade Organisation Chair holder and a leading authority in the fields of export promotion, competitive intelligence and economic development. Wilma’s work has appeared in more than 50 peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and national policy reports.

The TRADE-DSM (decision support model) team, which Prof Wilma Viviers heads, was nominated for the category for research leading to innovation by a corporate organisation.

The TRADE research entity is making an academically rigorous and highly practical contribution to South Africa’s trade and development efforts by regularly engaging with policy makers and industry stakeholders and delivering quality research outputs that address key challenges. These challenges include improving the country’s competitiveness, diversifying the export product and service base, and expanding into non-traditional markets.

The NWU’s CFAM Technologies (PTY) Ltd was in the running for an award in the category for research leading to innovation by a small, medium and micro-sized enterprise.

Danie Vorster is its managing director. CFAM specialises in the manufacturing of extrusion machines that are ideally suited for African conditions.

Mobile Agri Skills Development & Training (MASDT) NPC, which is associated with the NWU’s Centre for Water Sciences and Management, was nominated in the non-governmental organisation category. The Centre for Water Sciences and Management’s director is Prof Ingrid Dennis.

MASDT is a non-profit organisation that has diversified into a one-stop centre for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.