Best innovative projects receive financial lift

Rwanda Innovation Endowment Fund (RIEF) has awarded Rwf252 million to eight best Science, Technology and Innovation related project owners to help them run their business.Those recognised were young entrepreneurs with locally applicable start ups, which according to officials, spur socio-economic transformation of the country.The ceremony was held on Thursday at Kigali Health Institute (KHI).Remmy Twiringiyimana, the acting Director General, Science, Technology and Research at the Ministry of Education, said that the eight winners were selected out of 370 applicants.Of the eight winners, two are from the ICT sector, three from agriculture and three from manufacturing sector.Innovation, team delivery capacity, production, service, social benefit, business mode, market, data credibility were, according to Twiringiyimana, the criteria during the nine months selection period.“I’m really thankful for RIEF for the recognition of the work I did. This money will help me in implementing the project and I’m sure it will help fight malnutrition among Rwandan children,” Maryse Umugwaneza, a nutritionist and one of the winners, said.Her project involved production of infant and young children fortified complementary foods using fermented (germinated) sorghum to make it more digestible. Umugwaneza said prototype had already started, adding that her seed funding was about Rwf 2 million. She was awarded with Rwf 31.5m.Others recognised were Aimable Rutagambwa (Rwf31.5m), Yvette Mwari (Rwf31.9m), Honore Mukamwiza (Rwf31.6m), Monique Kimenyi (31.8m),Charles Uwitonze (Rwf31.8m), Dominique Ntirushwa (Rwf31.8m),and Pierre Bakunzibake(Rwf30m).“This project will have a social impact since it will be providing free training for about 250 people per month in the ICT sector,” Dominique Ntirushwa, the owner of Data Innovation Centre project, said.He said his project aims at promoting ICT outside of Kigali with the idea of developing telecenters and a new model which will ensure a high speed connection.“Your selection was based on merit. You should ensure your innovation is turned into successful business and processes to create employment not only for yourselves but also for the Rwandan youth,” Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Education said.He urged people to invest in ICT related businesses, saying it is the key driver to sustainable development. Preference was given to young graduate innovations.RIEF was formally launched on April 5, 2012 in recognition of the contribution of Science, Technology and Innovation to Rwanda’s socio and economic growth.

National

Best innovative projects receive financial lift