The MUST Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer (CITT) conducted its 4th Scientific Writing Workshop from 12th to 16th September, 2022. The workshop brought together eight multidisciplinary teams (16 participants) in areas of engineering, ICT, Business, agro-biotechnology and value addition; that are competing for the Quarter 1 2022/2023 innovation seed grant.
The Quarter 1 2022/2023 innovation seed grant is part of the Research and Innovation fund extended to MUST by the Government of Uganda in Financial Year 2022/2023. The workshop was opened by Prof. Nixon Kamukama, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs and Chairperson for CITT Board. He emphasized a need to show case, translate ideas into products and address the most pressing societal challenges. He emphasized a need to light innovation candles at MUST that will make the institution visible.
Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko – Director CITT noted that the scientific writing workshops not only prepares innovators for the seed grants but also equip the teams with capacity to compete for other bigger innovation grants. He mentioned that this financial year, 18 teams will be supported to generate 7 high tech prototypes, develop 9 products and support 2 spin-off companies. He further said that with the current innovation fund extended to MUST, his CITT team is committed to make use of this initial funding as a positive pilot to position MUST innovation ecosystem to catch the “government’s eye” for more funding.
The 5-days workshop has yielded good quality concepts basing on quality-oriented training led by topnotch facilitators that included Ms. Laura Althaus (StartHub), Dr. William Wasswa (Deputy Director CITT), Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko (Director CITT), Dr. Sarah Nabachwa (Head of Marketing FoBMS), Mr Dennis Lukaya (Administrator, FAST) and Mr. Ivan Mujuni (CITT Volunteer).
The concepts are to be assessed in a Project Qualification Review (PQR) process from where the three best innovation teams shall win a seed grant of 6,000,000 (Six million Uganda shillings) to kickstart their innovation projects. The workshop was closed by the Vice Chancellor represented by Assoc. Prof. Charles Tushabomwe-Kazooba. He challenged the participants to always ask what innovation is entailed in their concepts to generate a good mixed grill.
“If you project does not go throw, go back to the drawing board and find out the gap that let you down. To me you all winners, you are not the same since you started writing, giving up is not an option “ said Prof. Charles Kazooba.
Teams and the Innovation Projects
PARTICIPANTS | TEAM | FIELD |
Mbulambago Timothy
Kwesiga Emmanuel Paul |
NOSCRATCH- A Low-Cost Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring Tool | Engineering
|
Tumusingize Peregrino
Chebet Mercy |
MUST -Mabira Bakyara Twetungure Organic Wine | Agriculture |
Ojaka Derrick
Kisambira Fareed Bogere |
Traffic Control System Based on Density of Traffic | Engineering |
Dr. Jonas Tusiimire
Nalugya Sylivia Mugenyi Nathan
|
AMRIA Platform Team- An Anti-Microbial Resistance Identity and Action Tool | Medicine/Pharmacy |
Mirembe Edith
Mugambe Victor |
Biodegradable Plastic | Engineering |
Kauta John Baptist Eshana
Kyohirwe Parvin |
Pay Power Socket | Energy/ICT |
Tushabe Ronard
Evas Nimusiima |
Accountant App | Business/Finance |
Dr. Bakashaba Rennie | Peinzy App | Business/Finance |