The University of Pretoria (UP) was instrumental in the creation of a mobile hearing screening application that could be used on a cellphone, which was developed as a transdisciplinary venture in the laboratories of the university and which is now available worldwide to make the lives of those with hearing disabilities better.
UP’s spin-out company, hearScreen, has completed the full cycle of a university-licensed invention that has followed the commercialisation route. However, this may be just the start of the next leg of its journey of ongoing success.
Members of UP’s Innovation and Contracts Management Division recently joined the CEO of the hearX Group, Nic Klopper, to sign an agreement that signified the transfer of the invention’s Intellectual Property (IP) to hearScreen (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the hearX Group.
The innovation that led to the establishment of the company in 2016 was developed as a solution to provide access to hearing screening tests for children and adults in underserved areas, who were previously unable to access these services.
The solution, a mobile hearing screening application that could be used on a cellphone, was developed at UP. It was the outcome of the combined intellectual prowess of Professor De Wet Swanepoel, a researcher in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Professor Herman Myburgh, a researcher in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.
It soon attracted the interest of role-players outside the hearing health industry, including mining houses and companies performing clinical trials.
In an effort to address the global hearing loss pandemic, the company expanded its product portfolio. In addition to the original tool for the screening of hearing loss, it developed a full diagnostic test for use in the occupational health and safety industry, as well in neonatal units.
This was followed by a range of acoustic inventions that included a platform for the fitting and support of hearing aids. It was therefore soon able to provide a total solution for individuals suffering from hearing loss.
The turning point for the company came in 2022 when new legislation in the USA led to the deregulation of the hearing aid landscape, allowing the company to market its over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids to individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss.
This enabled it to pioneer digital hearing solutions to detect, diagnose and treat hearing loss around the globe.
The hearing aids provided by hearX are now available in over 15,000 retail doors across the USA, and its Lexie Hearing brand is currently the No 1-selling OTC hearing aid brand in the USA.
Last year it was recognised as one of TIME100’s most influential companies in the leadership category. The company employs over 200 people, including audiologists who operate a call centre in Pretoria. It also has an office and a warehouse in the USA.
Celebrating the company’s success, advocate Lawrence Baloyi, UP’s Head: Innovation and Contracts Management, described the transfer of the IP to the company as a significant milestone for both UP and hearScreen.
He acknowledged that this would not have been possible without the hard work, vision and perseverance of the entire team.
“They succeeded in turning an idea into something tangible and – more importantly – they are making a real impact in the world of hearing health.” He added that the partnership between UP and hearScreen is proof that “when industry and academia work hand in hand, magic happens”.
He noted that the success that the company had achieved was not just about the technology. “It is about jobs being created, innovation being nurtured and the contribution to both the local and the global economy. It is about creating a ripple effect that will continue to make waves in the world of healthcare.”
Representing the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) at the signing ceremony, Jetane Charsley, Head of NIPMO, reflected that innovation happens when technology is put into action.
“When innovation moves from concept to practice, it can solve real-world problems and improve lives.”
She acknowledged the contribution of the researchers, who succeeded in transforming curiosity into discovery, and discovery into tangible outcomes.
She commended the university’s Technology Transfer Office for its dedication in bridging the gap between the laboratory and the market.
“You play a crucial role in ensuring that South Africa’s innovations reach those who need them most,” she said.
Pretoria News
zelda.venter@inl.co.za