Seoul National University establishes a technology base center in Tanzania

- 1000 young entrepreneurs promoted in the field of new renewable energy and agricultural technology under the supervision of Sung-Hoon Ahn / Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU

 

 ▲ Sung-Hoon Ahn / Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU in agreement with the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology

 

Seoul National University is the first university in Korea to establish a base research institute in Africa. It is a project to develop and distribute renewable energy and smart agricultural technology as Tanzania is suffering from chronic food shortage and power shortage. They also planned to train 1000 young entrepreneurs in the local area for four years to help them grow up and interact with Korea.

 

Kunwoo Lee/Dean,  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU,  said that in August, Sung-Hoon Ahn / Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU, will open an  technology base center" in Arusha, Tanzania to study appropriate technology and grow local businessmen.

 

Proper technology implies the  improvement of the quality of life in Tanzania as by utilizing local customized technology. This is the first time for a Korean university to establish a research institute in Africa that has both academic and educational functions.

 

Seoul National University of Technology believes in Tanzania’s potential as the country is is rich in resources such as gold coffee and stable politically so that its growth potential is high. Despite the fact that per capita income is only 840 US dollars (based on 2016), the economy is growing at a rate of 6 ~ 7% per year at 54 million people, making it the "Blue Ocean" market in East Africa.

 

Tanzania is actively promoting overseas universities because of lack of research and education infrastructure necessary for growth. Nelson Mandela, the Center for African Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), is regarded as the KAIST in Tanzania. Nevertheless, there are four professors and 45 professors. NM-AIST provides about 1000 square meters of land and buildings free of charge to Seoul National University.

 

Seoul National University decided to dispatch 20 ~ 30 researchers every year to operate the center. Sung-Hoon Ahn / Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU, plans to install a new and renewable energy power plant in four villages of Oji using solar wind power to supply electricity to about 1,200 residents.

 

The center also has support facilities to help young entrepreneurs in Tanzania start up their technology. Chairman of the invitation center will be Chae Won E3 ImPower, who has developed a low-power solar energy panel in Silicon Valley, USA. After receiving his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, Lee has established E3 ImPower, a social enterprise that supports small start-ups in underdeveloped countries in Africa.

 

This will provide technology and entrepreneurship training programs to train 1,000 youth entrepreneurs during the first four-year period. Future Department Research Foundation will support 2 billion won for 4 years.

 

Sung-Hoon Ahn / Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU, said, "A cooperation system that combines the skills of university researchers with the local know-how of social enterprises." "Local start-ups (start-up venture companies) representing Arusha, The goal is to establish a place and sign more than five technology contracts. "

 

"It will be a test site for new models that will develop appropriate technology for commercialization and deviate from official development aid (ODA)," said Kunwoo Lee/ Dean, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, SNU. "In the long run, we will spread the project to neighboring countries such as Kenya Malawi Mozambique. "