Rwanda joins international Technology Transfer Network

The government of Rwanda through the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology’s (KIST), Technology and Business Incubation Facility (TBIF), becomes the first member of Shanghai International Technology Transfer Network (SITTNet). SITTNet is initiated and organised by the National Technology Transfer Centre of Shanghai, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Technology Innovation Centre, Shanghai Co-way International Technology Transfer Centre Co. Ltd, Shanghai Small Enterprises Service Centre and the Technology Transfer Centre of Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology, with the Secretariat located in Shanghai Co-way ITT centre in China. It aims at integrating resources of companies dealing with international technology transfer, strengthening the link of Universities, institutions and enterprises, promoting the effective flow of science & technology information and resources, accelerating the business co-operation and high tech product trade between Rwanda and China. Shanghai International Technology Transfer platform is one important part of SITTNet, which is an open information platform providing international technology transfer supply and demand. Rajeev Aggarwal, the director of TBIF explained that by joining the above network, KIST can assist Rwandan Entrepreneurs to expand their business contacts to other organisations or enterprises in China, to get in touch with Chinese SITTNet members and other local Technology transfer providers in China. The admission to SITTNet came during the International workshop on Planning, Building, and Management of Science Parks and Incubation in Shanghai, China from October 10 to 26, 2008. Rwanda, Kenya, Lesotho, Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and delegates from the African Union attended. “There is strong need to set a national policy on innovation, science and technology development through establishment of Science parks and a business incubators,” said the in-charge of training, James Kayinamura, who also attended the workshop in China. The conference objective was to provide opportunities for government officials, experts and managers in the filed of Science and Technology Parks from African countries to develop beneficial relationships and to exchange knowledge and ideas. “Rwanda can not stand as an island in this global development move. Joining SITTNet will help Rwanda to learn a lot from China and all the network members,” said KIST Rector, Professor Abraham Ogwu, yesterday on phone. Kenya, Nigeria and Botswana were the other countries admitted to the network due to the incubation development in their respective countries. According to KIST Vice Rector, Rajav Aggarwal,, who also signed on behalf of the country, Rwanda has got one incubation facility that has trained 250 technology entrepreneurs with 15 already working. The TBIF provides a micro-environment for accelerating start-up business and maximising their growth potential by conserving entrepreneurs’ most scarce resources, time and money, through cost sharing, access to capital, work space, support services and equipment in a flexible and timely manner. Ends