How do I get into the Innovation Hub? 

Write a detailed proposal of your innovation with an emphasis on what National issue is solves (NDS1) and the potential for commercialisation to the Executive Director of Research Innovation and Industrialisation, University of Zimbabwe 

 

How do I request support from the Research Innovation and Industrialisation Directorate?  

Similar to the above FAQ Write a detailed proposal of your innovation with an emphasis on what National issue is solves (NDS1) and the potential for commercialisation to the Executive Director of Research Innovation and Industrialisation, University of Zimbabwe 

How do I register startup/company/University company

The University has three holding companies, Njere Holding PVT (ltd) for consultancies, Incubus PVT ltd for shareholding in start-ups and Vaka Nyika Holding pvt ltd for University Companies. Suggest 3 possible names of the start-up, describe what the business is about, the directors of the company and send the details to the Executive Director of Research Innovation and Industrialisation, University of Zimbabwe 

As a community Member, how do I work with the university to develop my
Innovations/IP/Invention

Connect with the University of Zimbabwe Innovation Hub staff who will walk you through the process

Objectives of the University of Zimbabwe Innovation Hub

• Support promising research and innovation outputs at different stages of development into commercialisable outputs.
• Assist Innovation Hub interns to realise their business and entrepreneurial potential.
• Stimulate the establishment of start-up companies from research outputs and seed industries.
• Facilitate the protection of the intellectual property generated.

 

University of Zimbabwe Innovation Hub Programmes

The innovators come into the Innovation Hub under the

following programmes:

• Graduate Innovator and Start-up Programme

Each year, graduating students who develop their outstanding products/services can be awarded innovation Status under this programme.

 

• Innovation Hub Fellows: (Staff and students from the University Faculties and Institutes)

This category embraces undergraduate students, graduate and postgraduate students (not qualifying in section 1. above) including MA, MSc, MPhil, DPhil, Postdoctoral Fellows, Lecturers, Professors, Technical Staff and Administrators.

 

• Community Outreach Innovator and Start-up

Programme, Industrial Innovator and Start-up Programme. This category embraces research institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs, and community innovators who wish to use the Innovation Hub to accelerate product development and/or commercialisation of their technologies or to support the University staff or students’ researchers already in the Innovation Hub.

 

• Heritage for Innovation and Development Programme

The programme targets mature researchers and is aimed at preserving our national heritage. It has 4 pillars focusing on local/indigenous knowledge;

1. Tapping into Africa’s Live Knowledge Bank;
2.  Increasing the resourcefulness of our natural human capital;
3. Harnessing indigenous/local knowledge and its diversity
4. Engaging scholars from different backgrounds to develop positions or white papers on issues of national strategic importance.

• Future Grains for Africa Programme

This programme promotes the development of food, beverage and feed products to promote the production and consumption of future grain cereals for food and nutrition security in the face of climate change using a value chain approach.

Research Innovation Industrial Week Activities

Research and Innovation Activities

Research and Innovation Awards

Directorate Activities

 

Innovation Hub Start-Up

1. Future Foods (Pvt) Ltd

 

The start-up company specialises in producing health and delicious snacks made out of  is registered and ready for operationalization. Product development is complete, has been tested on the market and is ready for mass production..

 

2. Zvinovaka Foods (Pvt) Ltd 

The start- up company is registered and ready for operationalization. The company has been selected for partnering with Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDCZ) for mass production of the Nutrimax instant porridge. 

3. Internet of Kaps (Pvt) Ltd

The start-up company is into the development of computer software and trackers. Internet of Kaps Private Limited is an internet of things driven company that offers ICT solutions. Its first product is an asset tracker that focuses on motor cars. It offers a vehicle tracker that allows users to track their vehicles and immobilize them using SMS or a web dashboard. These services are independent, that is a customer can choose SMS only or live tracking, or both. The tracker can be installed in a customer vehicle and not incur monthly subscriptions allowing the customer to use SMS tracking and immobilisation when they want to. Internet of Kaps also offers a live tracking device that will incur a monthly subscription, and provides customers with a web dashboard to view the historical movement of their vehicle and allow them to remotely shut down the vehicle. The business aims to sell the SMS trackers to individual customers who would not want to incur monthly subscriptions, but once in a while know where their car is. This includes parents installing these trackers on their children’s vehicles making sure they are at school, or arrived safely at their destination. Corporates will most likely use the live tracking feature that will allow them to view historical movement of their vehicles, and allow remote shut downs if usage found abusive. Small businesses can also make use of the SMS tracker to once in a while to monitor their drivers. What differentiates our product from what is available in the market is the free SMS tracking that we provide. The tracking device has been locally manufactured and developed in Zimbabwe, by Zimbabweans. The web dashboard has been developed locally by local developers. The same tracking device can be used for live tracking or SMS tracking, and customers can choose between the two. The management team is lead by Kapil Narotam, who is the founder, and has experience in both the computing world, and motor car world. The company has been formed in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe, which has faculty staff and expertise in various fields, which will be easily accessible when needed in the company.The company offers ICT consultancy on networking, software and hardware services.

 

4. Infinite Greens (Pvt) Ltd 

The start-up company has been registered and is ready for operationalisation. Product development trials have been done to determine feasibility of the project and were successful. The company plans to grow Zumbani throughout the year at the University Agro Industrial Park.

5. Carrie Medical Hardware (Pvt) Ltd

The start-up company is registered and is ready for operationalisation. It is into manufacturing of cotton wool nasopharyngeal swabs and medical equipment. 

6. Access of Intelligence Solutions (Pvt) Ltd 

The start-up company is registered and ready for operationalisation. It is into the development of smart and secure biometric access control systems.

7. Inturistic (Pvt) Ltd

The start-up company is registered and is ready for operationalisation. The company is into development of smart Blind-Walking Sticks which acts as an artificial sense of vision for the visually impaired people. It has the ability to detect obstacles and water in front of the user.

8. Medicative Solutions (Pvt) Ltd

The start-up company is registered and is ready for operationalization. It is into the development of Pharmacy Location Application System using a mobile phone. The application helps in locating and showing the nearest pharmaceutical retailer with relevant prescribed medicine. The application is now live on the server, http://www.techpharm.co.zw/

 

9. Tsvaa Paytech (Pvt)

The start-up company is registered and is ready for operationalisation. It has developed a payment platform with embedded rewards programme. 

10. Bauseth Engineering Pvt Ltd

The start–up company is registered and is ready for operationalization. It is into Design and Fabrication of Crop threshing machines.

12. Teden (Pvt) Ltd

The start-up company is under the process of registration.  It is into, smart Electricity Monitoring and Protection system for Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Center (ZETDC). Prototypes have been developed, and now piloting with ZETDC in Mutare. 

13. Zimrobotelia (Pvt) Ltd

Main Innovation (Remote Controlled Lawnbot)

The Remote Controlled Lawnbot is a two wheel drive battery powered machine that is environmentally friendly in that it does not emit greenhouse gases that are now causing climate change. This machine can be controlled by a remote controller with a 500m range of operation such that the user will be able to operate the machine at a safer distance and also relaxed without any laborious effort needed, this is just by the push of buttons the user can be able to fully control the machine. The machine comes with an automatic cutting deck height adjustment system which enables the user to adjust the cutting height of the blade.