KLAB at the heart of Rwanda Innovation ....

K-Lab Rwanda

Rwanda's ICT innovation is quickly gaining momentum due to the fact that some young technology graduates are actively engaged in software applications thanks to kLab innovation centre. The government, through Rwanda Development Board (RDB) plans to set up an ICT park that will host a collection of technological investments including training, industries, research and development, which is in line with supporting technology innovation.
kLab, an open technology hub for IT entrepreneurs located at Telecom House in Kacyiru, provides a platform for developers, IT enthusiasts and interested parties of a growing ICT community to collaborate and innovate.
The innovation centre has formally unveiled its flagship pioneering ICT projects such as crowd funding (eNkunga), Kigalicc app, 'sarura', and unified school system. The software applications have been developed and implemented by some of its startup IT innovators. "These software applications have been developed to address the enormous community needs by providing easy access to relevant information. We are proud that our start-ups are bearing fruits with the successful implementation of big innovations in the Rwandan ICT sector as kLab tenants," Claude K. Migisha, the General Manager of kLab told The New Times.
He stated that the growing kLab community is also made of experienced mentors who provide both technical and business assistance to needy members. kLab also hosts events, workshops, bootcamp, hackathons and networking sessions to promote partnerships, investment and financing.
Migisha further noted that the innovative mobile web applications represent kLab's contribution to address Rwandan community needs through embracing and proper usage of the open space for collaboration and innovation. At the kLab, IT enthusiasts passionately work on applications, and their mission is to see the hub become like the famed Silicon Valley of the USA. Silicon Valley is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations, like Miscrosoft, Google, Facebook and HP, as well as thousands of small innovative start-ups.
Migisha said that kLab's mission is to promote, facilitate and support the development of innovative ICT solutions by nurturing a vivid community of entrepreneurs and mentors. The Unified School System web application developed by Jean Pierre Habinshuti, an ICT entrepreneur, will help promote the Rwandan education system through facilitating parents to effectively participate in the education of their children. The application is available and accessible to all schools in the country.

CIO East Africa