Nairobi i-Teams has been delivered successfully in 2022 and 2023 at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with the Centre for Global Equality.
Three multi-disciplinary teams of students met weekly to investigate the commercial opportunities for three new products in Kenya and nearby countries. They were supported locally by Dr. Martin Mutembei and Dr. Judith Wangata of the Strathmore University Energy Research Centre (SERC) and Dr. Joseph Obbo of the Computer Science Department. Lectures and workshops were delivered from the UK via Zoom by Amy Weatherup (i-Teams in Cambridge), Dr. Lara Allen (CEO, Centre for Global Equality), Katie Bardes, Dr. Simon Pulman-Jones and Dr. Sarwat Howe. The projects in 2022 included two projects from Cambridge and one from Nairobi, and in 2023 were all Strathmore-generated ideas.
This pilot hybrid model is intended to form the basis of future engagements with other universities in low and middle income countries.
The projects for Nairobi i-Teams in 2022 covered the following areas:
- Enabling electrical mobility, Solar E-cycles
- Chlorinating water, Blue Tap
- Water testing, WaterScope
Lectures and workshops included:
- “Making the commercialisation of new technologies inclusive”, by Dr. Lara Allen, CEO, Centre for Global Equality
- Communication skills workshop, by Katie Bardes
- Presentation skills, by Dr. Sarwat Howe, University of Manchester Innovation Factory
- Guest entrepreneur speaker, Professor Jackson Mwangi Mbuthia from Nairobi
The final presentations took place in-person at Strathmore and online via zoom.
Cambridge i-Teams, CGE and Strathmore University gratefully acknowledge the support of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, and funding from the University of Cambridge EPSRC International Partnerships Fund.
Image courtesy of SERC.
