In partnership with the UR-Sweden Program, UR organized a two-day multidisciplinary research and innovation symposium, featuring around 68 UR staff, students, and other educational stakeholders. Over 60 research and innovation projects in fields such as agriculture, health, education and technology were showcased by UR staff and graduates. These projects aim to address pressing community challenges and enhance the research ecosystem in Rwanda.
A section of participants during the event
In his opening remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kayihura Didas encouraged the teams behind the showcased projects to take their findings further and strengthen their impact on policy. He emphasized that research is central to UR’s mission of generating new ideas, technologies, and methodologies ; ones that can be transformed into products, services, or solutions to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges facing society.
Speaking at the event, Martina F. Mohlin, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Kigali, highlighted that collaboration with UR serves as a catalyst for transformative change and plays a central role in the innovation ecosystem. She added that Sweden remains committed to supporting locally driven solutions and fostering co-creation across sectors, noting that innovation is essential not only in research but also in sustaining the foundations of a thriving society.
From top-clockwise : VC Prof Kayihura Didas, Prof Etienne Ruvebana and Martina F. Mohlin
Some of the presented projects leverage technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to solve community issues. Eric Hitimana, a researcher and lecturer at UR’s College of Science and Technology, presented an innovative project that uses AI to help coffee farmers detect defects and plant diseases. The system then sends this information directly to agronomists in the area for support.
Hitimana developed a mobile application that uses a phone camera to scan defective parts of coffee leaves, generating detailed information about the issue. After detection, the app sends the data along with the farmer’s location coordinates to agronomists, the Rwanda Agriculture Board, and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). He noted that this also enables these institutions to collect data that informs agricultural policies and strategies.
Hitimana, a university academic developed a mobile app to help coffee farmers detect defects and plant diseases.
Another innovation presented was a solar-powered milk cooling system designed for rural farmers who lack reliable electricity. Developed by Fabien Mukundukize, a UR lecturer in electrical engineering, the system includes solar panels, a battery, and a custom cooling tank to help farmers store milk for longer periods and prevent spoilage.
“This ensures better milk quality and reduces waste for farmers awaiting buyers in areas without access to refrigeration,” Mukundukize said.
Mukundukize with his solar-powered milk cooling machine
Prof. Ruvebana, UR’s Senior Research Coordinator, praised the uniqueness of the research and innovation subprograms, noting that they are the only ones clustered across all seven UR colleges. He emphasized that the Program organized the symposium to reinforce its commitment to disseminating key milestones achieved in innovation and research.
By fostering collaboration between academics, industry professionals, and researchers, the symposium reinforced the University’s role in addressing societal challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
Participants pose for a group photo