A locally developed feminine hygiene product range, DORAH, has received R1 million in government funding to support its development and commercialisation, with officials highlighting the importance of partnerships in helping innovative businesses access markets. Image: Supplied.
IDC
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South Africa
DORAH feminine hygiene range launched with R1m government funding
A locally developed feminine hygiene product range, DORAH, has received R1 million in government funding to support its development and commercialisation, with officials highlighting the importance of partnerships in helping innovative businesses access markets.
A locally developed feminine hygiene product range, DORAH, has been launched with the support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The launch took place at The Fortress Avenue in Edenvale on Saturday, October 31.
Speaking at the launch, Claudy Steyn, Chief Director of Chemicals, Cosmetics, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals at the dtic, said successful commercialisation of innovative products required more than financial support.
She emphasised the importance of partnerships between government, industry and research institutions in helping businesses grow and bring locally developed products to market.
A grant of R1 million was allocated to Aabaalio Holdings (Pty) Ltd through the Grassroots Innovation Facilitation Scheme (GIFS), a funding mechanism under the Khoebo Innovation Promotion Programme (KIPP), to support the development of the DORAH product range.
Steyn explained that KIPP, administered by the IDC, supports early-stage innovative enterprises in commercialising locally developed products and technologies.
IDC Divisional Executive for Industry Planning and Project Development, Rian Coetzee, said partnerships played a critical role in determining whether new products succeeded in the market.
“Funding is not always the biggest challenge to market penetration by new products but lack of partnerships often lead to market failure,” Coetzee said.
He added that the IDC was proud to have partnered with the dtic in facilitating the creation and launch of the DORAH product range.
The programme aims to introduce innovative technologies into the economy through financial and non-financial support, with particular emphasis on innovators from rural and township communities.
Steyn said the initiative sought to build an ecosystem that would allow local innovations to grow and reach both domestic and international markets.
She encouraged entrepreneurs and innovators to take advantage of the opportunities offered through KIPP to develop and commercialise their products.
