ACEIoT Team from the University of Rwanda Visits KEEP for Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange

As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP) and the African Center of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT) at the University of Rwanda, a delegation from ACEIoT Rwanda, visited KEEP from 20th to 24th January 2025. The team, led by Prof. Damien Hanyurwimfura, Acting Director and Principal Investigator, included Dr. Evaritse Twahirwa, Lecturer and Mentorship Coordinator, and Ing. Desire Ngabo, the Head of Incubation Hub and Training. The visit aimed to study the operations of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL) as a model for establishing a similar facility at the University of Rwanda.

The team, alongside KEEP management, led by the Deputy Lead, KEEP, Prof. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, paid a courtesy call to the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko. During the meeting, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko welcomed the delegation. In his address, he emphasised the importance of collaborating with African institutions to address critical issues like poverty and job creation through engineering and technology.

Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko proposed a joint effort to develop startups in Ghana and Rwanda, noting, “We have to create sustainable jobs, and all this comes from engineering. The earlier we start, the better.” He suggested organising competitions to encourage students to create startups, including internationally competitive ones, drawing examples from successful companies like Uber and Bolt. He emphasised that students can innovate similarly to build solutions tailored to African needs.

As part of the visit, the delegation participated in a meeting where researchers delivered presentations from RAIL. These presentations highlighted projects, demonstrating how AI is applied to thematic areas such as health, education, and agriculture. The meeting also served as a platform to discuss collaborative efforts between KEEP and ACEIoT, focusing on writing joint research proposals and sharing resources and equipment (such as computing power, servers, and other infrastructure).

In a presentation by Prof. Damien Hanyurwimfura, an overview of the University of Rwanda and ACEIoT was presented, established in 2017 under the World Bank’s African Centers of Excellence (ACE) initiative. Prof. Hanyurwimfura discussed short courses offered by ACEIoT, such as rapid prototyping for IoT and LoRa technologies, and emphasised their commitment to fostering innovation and creating impactful solutions. The delegation expressed a keen interest in adopting KEEP’s approach to setting up labs like RAIL and fostering impactful research.

The delegation visited the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL), interacting with students and researchers working on AI applications across various thematic areas. They explored how RAIL’s design and operations could inspire the establishment of a similar lab in Rwanda.

The team toured the Innovation Center, the IoT Lab, and the Dipper Lab. At the Dipper Lab, the delegation met with Dr. Eric Tutu Tchao, the lab’s Scientific Director, who shared the lab’s journey, challenges, and successes.

KEEP and ACEIoT reiterated their commitment to fostering stronger partnerships through exchanging expertise and supporting startup development, mainly through the AI4SD Innovation Challenge, an initiative to foster AI-driven solutions for sustainable development. Prof. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa extended an invitation to Rwandan students to participate in the challenge, emphasising the importance of cross-border collaboration in nurturing innovation.

In his final remarks, Prof. Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa highlighted that RAIL is just one of several labs under KEEP. He encouraged the ACEIoT team to explore collaboration opportunities with other labs, including the Materials Lab, the Power Systems Lab, and the Renewable Energy Lab. He urged the delegation to share these opportunities with their colleagues in Rwanda to foster partnerships across multiple disciplines and research areas.

Reflecting on the visit, Mr. Makafui Bedzra, College of Engineering Innovation Centre Manager, noted, “This collaboration is already in motion. Both sides are learning from each other very quickly. We are looking at opportunities to support startups in Ghana and Rwanda and create a platform for sustainable growth.”

The delegation left inspired by the innovations and hospitality at KNUST, with plans to implement lessons learned in Rwanda. Prof. Hanyurwimfura stated, “We hope to continue improving our collaboration and adding more partnerships in different areas. Together, we can solve Africa’s challenges and create a brighter future for the continent.”