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From 15–19 September 2025, the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT) hosted an entrepreneurship training program for 40 researchers and innovators drawn from higher learning institutions, as well as public and private sector organizations.

The training was organized under the “Strengthening Rwanda’s Research and Innovation Ecosystem through Training, Coordination and Collaboration” project, funded by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund. The project seeks to build nationwide capacity through Training of Trainers programs to enhance research, entrepreneurship, and innovation skills.

Participants during the Entrepreneurship Training

It also promotes collaboration between academia and industry to drive market-relevant innovations, with the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable research and innovation ecosystem that supports Rwanda’s economic growth.

In his remarks, Prof. Damien Hanyurwimfura, the Project Investigator and Centre Director, commended the various institutions that nominated participants for the training. He urged participants to share the knowledge and skills gained with colleagues at their respective institutions to maximize the program’s impact.

The main objective of the training was to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to identify opportunities, create and manage businesses, and contribute to Rwanda’s economic and social development. It also aimed to help researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and business professionals transform innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.

Participants engaged in sessions covering key topics such as Ideation, Value Proposition, Business Modelling, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development, Validation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Go-To-Market Strategies, Team Building, Pitching, Facilitation, and Capstone Project Delivery, among others.

“This is a good opportunity for us, as we covered topics that are crucial in transforming an idea into a final product for commercialization. This aligns with the country’s vision of promoting entrepreneurship,” said one of the participants

This initiative builds on the success of a previous project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which developed Rwanda’s national technology transfer and commercialization strategy.

Like its predecessor, the current project emphasizes building national capacity through Training of Trainers to strengthen research, entrepreneurship, and innovation skills.