Dr. Kyle Klopper co-founded the Stellenbosch University (SU) spin-out company, BioTrac Systems, towards the end of 2023. The journey began at SU where Dr. Klopper initially studied for a broad BSc degree but later decided to narrow his focus to microbiology. During his undergraduate years, Dr. Klopper spent two years conducting research under the mentorship and guidance of Prof. Eugene Cloete, former Dean of Science and Vice Rector of Research and Innovation at SU. This experience was pivotal, providing him with a deep understanding of research methodologies and the practical applications of microbiology with a special focus on the water sector.
Later, Dr. Klopper pursued his PhD in microbiology under the supervision and mentoring of Prof. Gideon Wolfaardt. Prof. Wolfaardt is a professor in Microbiology, holding the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) Chair in Water Management, the Rand Water Chair in Public Health and is the Director of the SU Water Institute. He also holds a joint appointment as professor in Environmental Microbiology at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Dr. Klopper’s PhD research focused on two key areas: examining biofilms as a mechanism of proliferation rather than survival only, and exploring how biofilms survive antimicrobial treatment and colonise new environments. The research required a system that could monitor microbial respiration in real-time and non-destructively. At the time, Prof. Wolfaardt and his research group in Canada had already developed and validated a system for this purpose.
However, Dr. Klopper soon realised they needed a separate metric that not only monitored microbial activity, but also surface attachment to provide a better understanding of the stochastic nature of biofilms and associated survival/proliferation interplay. Prof. Wolfaardt and Dr. Klopper decided to combine both systems, the product of which then formed a core part of Klopper’s PhD studies.
Initially, all this work was done purely for research and academic purposes. However, during an engagement with industry stakeholders, they observed the system and noted that it would be beneficial to their operations.
Dr. Klopper and Prof. Wolfaardt understood that it wouldn’t be as simple, and that to bring this innovation to the market, they required a more compact and digitally enabled system. This realisation catalysed the BioTrac journey, although they had long since suspected there was a market for real-time, efficient monitoring of microbial activity. Coincidentally this realisation coincided with the lockdown period, giving Dr. Klopper the opportunity to focus on designing a proof-of-concept prototype from his garage at home.Once they had a prototype, the team approached Innovus Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to begin the commercialisation process.
For the past 12-18 months, Dr. Klopper, Prof. Wolfaardt and Tom Murray, together with Nolene Singh, Deputy Director at Innovus TTO, have collaborated closely to refine the product for market readiness. They are currently partnering with industry to trial the prototype, gathering feedback and making the necessary adjustments to meet industry requirements. Presently, two prototypes are already on the market, with an additional three scheduled for deployment in the coming months. Dr. Klopper aims to achieve a commercially viable product by the end of 2024, a goal which is supported by the growing interest from commercial entities requesting additional units for their global plants, situated in countries such as the United States and EU.
The demand for BioTrac Systems offering can be attributed to its proactive analysis, monitoring microbial activities and providing real-time alerts for any irregularities observed. This allows companies to respond faster and more efficiently, thus reducing operational costs.
For Dr. Klopper, the most challenging aspect of commercialising his research has been navigating the bureaucracy and administrative red tape related to disclosures and legalities. Despite these challenges, he emphasises the importance of patience and having the right support. “Working with Innovus has been a blessing and we are happy to be partnering with them” says Dr. Klopper.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Klopper notes, “as researchers, our core competencies lie in conducting research. When it comes to commercialisation, we need to trust and rely on the expertise of professionals who specialise in bringing innovations to market.” This philosophy has guided their collaboration with Innovus TTO over the past 12-18 months.
To find out more about BioTrac, click here