Call for innovative ideas

Nontombi Marule explains the goals of Santam's call for innovative safety ideas.

Innovators have been called to present ideas for tangible products that can keep people safer.

Insurance company Santam last week presented two products as examples of what they are looking for in the challenge.

Whoever has the most innovative safety concept will receive the funding, coaching, and mentoring they need to make their product.

The first was a keychain-sized remote that helps to inform drivers when people are trying to break into their vehicles.

The remote will sound off when it senses that someone in the surrounding area is trying to corrupt a car’s automatic locking mechanism.

The safety instrument can also tell when someone is using a secondary remote to keep the vehicle from locking properly.

The second safety product showcased was a devise that a person uses to inform them when an item is being stolen from them.

This small square device also works as a remote that is linked to a person’s cellphone through an app.

The individual is able place the remote in a bag or a backpack.

In the event that someone tries to steal the bag from them, their cellphone will sound off an alarm when the bag and safety remote are too far away from the phone.

The individual will have to have their cellphone with them at all times for this product to work.

Entries for safety product ideas can be made online or in person.

People may submit their ideas online with a three minute video that explains their innovative product and how it works.

If people would like to present their ideas in person, they will be able to pitch their products at the University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, and University of Kwazulu-Natal.

Entries close on Friday September 23.

Visit www.santam.co.za/safety ideas for details.