What happens when academic research meets real-world innovation?
On the left, subproject 5 members during the benchmarking at EDIC
On October 30th, 2025, a team from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) under the UCoBS Subproject 5 embarked on a transformative visit to the Engineering Development and Innovation Centre (EDIC). Led by Dr. Tumuhimbise Manasseh, subproject 5 team leader, the delegation set out to learn how Uganda’s top innovation hub is redefining engineering education through hands-on learning and commercialization of ideas.
Left, Dr. Manasseh Tumuhimbise giving his opening remarks as the team lead
At EDIC, learning goes beyond the classroom. The team explored cutting-edge facilities from CNC machining units and robotic welding arms to digital engineering workstations—where student innovators transform concepts into tangible products. The visit opened minds to what’s possible when skills meet purpose.
“For Uganda to progress, we need to use our ideas; we must be competent and skilled,” one EDIC mentor emphasized.
EDIC’s success model combining design for manufacturing, product acceleration, and rapid professional conversion offers lessons that could reshape innovation at MUST. The center’s role in tackling Uganda’s import dependence by producing local engineering solutions was particularly inspiring, with projections showing a contribution of USD 6.9 billion to the GDP under the tenfold growth strategy.
For the MUST team, the experience sparked reflection:
How can universities turn ideas into products people can buy? How can students move from theory to thriving enterprises?
Presentations during the benchmarking and during a tour around some of their workshops
One EDIC success story stood out: Jimmy, a mechanical engineer who once traveled to China and India just to manufacture designs he’d sketched at home, now builds and commercializes those designs locally. His advice was clear:
“Money comes from dirty hands; it’s what you build that brings value.”
The visit concluded with strong outcomes:
- EDIC will host a bootcamp for MUST lecturers to enhance practical mentorship.
- Plans are underway to sign an MoU formalizing collaboration in training, research, and innovation.
- MUST gained deep insights into how to align learning outcomes with industry employability.
This benchmarking visit marked more than an exchange , it symbolized the beginning of a new era of partnership between academia and industry, where innovation is not just taught but lived.
