NIRDA

The India-Rwanda Innovation Growth Programme, www.irigp.org

The India Rwanda Innovation Growth Programme (IRIGP) is a technology transfer programme which was launched during the State Visit of the former Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari, as one of the major Science and Technology initiatives between India and Rwanda. The Government of India’s Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is implementing the programme in partnership with NIRDA.

The India-Rwanda Innovation Growth Programme is a first of its kind initiative to be launched and piloted between India and Rwanda to strengthen the bilateral relationship purely based on Science, Technology and Innovation. The objective of the Programme is to match the socio-economic needs of Rwanda by linking the Rwandan industry with leading edge Indian technologies and innovations. The Programme will deploy 20 demonstrated and validated Indian technologies and innovations over a period of two years, leading to 20 sustainable enterprises that will stimulate economic impact development in Rwanda.

In alignment with the above-stated objectives, a database of over 230 Indian tested technologies has been created and readily available for Rwanda's private sector utilization. A total of ten Indian - Rwandan enterprises were matched and business engagement agreements have been signed for Indian technology acquisition. The matched enterprises were in areas of: ICT, health, agro-processing, leather and energy value chains.

The second year of the programme is yet to start under the financing of the Indian Government. It will focus on Indian technology transfer in the areas of energy, wood, garments, fruit and vegetable value chains.

Cleaner Production and Climate Innovation Center

Since the elaboration of Vision 2020, the Government of Rwanda has always been committed to environmental protection and promotion of a green economy. The greening of industries is a method to attain sustainable economic growth and promote a sustainable environment. It includes policy making, improved industrial production processes through resource efficient productivity, enhanced environmental compliance and the use of climate innovation in adaptation and mitigation programmes for human health and sustainable development in different sectors.

The proposed Cleaner Production and Climate Innovation Center will bridge a gap between Government interventions to boost local industries, and the use of more resource efficient and cleaner production principles. The main mission of the center will be to become a one

stop center of excellence which provides and promotes cutting edge, modern access to green technologies and business services.

The center will ensure that all technology, process and service choices made by the private sector and the public sector embrace the best practices in terms of climate change resilience, circular economy and cleaner and/or efficient production. It will also provide an ideal platform to support private sector initiatives to protect the environment. Services will include policy guidance, awareness and technical training, business and consultancy services, access to finance, networking and information dissemination, and increasing opportunities for women and girl innovation.