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The Challenges of Going Local: A Medical Device Innovator Faces the Reality of Manufacturing in Rural Africa
Like many enterprises working in emerging markets, Noor Medical wanted to manufacture its product locally. As COO Andrew Bonneau explains, a local approach promised many advantages, from lower costs to a better understanding of its customers. But the company soon learned that manufacturing in developing countries like Uganda is often easier said than done. Bonneau discusses the obstacles the company has faced, and how they've overcome them.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Beyond ‘Take-Make-Waste’ Supply Chains: MIT Solve Seeks Circular Economy Solutions
Most of the products we use today — clothing, furniture, electronics and more — come from “take-make-waste” linear supply chains. These systems result in 2 billion tons of solid waste each year, produce major carbon emissions, and often involve toxic working conditions. MIT Solve is seeking new models through its Circular Economy Challenge, which will give $10,000 grants to the eight most promising solutions - the application deadline is July 1.
- Categories
- Environment, Transportation
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What Needs to Change in the Indian Medical Devices Ecosystem for Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Patients
In India, imported products account for 80% of medical device sales, and most were developed for middle and high-income countries – far from India’s unique challenges of accessibility and affordability. In recent years, thousands of startups and innovators have emerged to build more affordable public health products. But Dhruv Pandey at Social Alpha writes that government and financing challenges will stop these innovators in their tracks unless entrepreneurs can find alternate paths.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Tags
- manufacturing
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Viewpoint: How 3-D Printing Can Jumpstart Developing Economies
3D printing has one more advantage in developing countries. Because additive production is entirely digitized, it’s easier for entrepreneurs to monitor and optimize the various steps in the manufacturing process.
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- Technology
- Tags
- manufacturing
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Rwanda Is Set To Open Africa’s First Smartphone Factory In April 2019
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s minister for information and communications technology (ICT) and innovation, announced that a smartphone manufacturing plant will be opened in Rwanda by Mara Corporation.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- manufacturing
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Making AI Work for Africa: Why Google Must Go Local with its New Research Center in Ghana
In June, Google announced that it would open an Artificial Intelligence (AI) research center in Accra, Ghana later this year – one more sign of Africa’s vast untapped potential for AI innovation. But since developing countries will be hit hardest by manufacturing job losses caused by AI-fueled automation, Google must avoid “merely creating an African outpost for its pre-existing research efforts,” says Ghanaian entrepreneur Timothy Kotin. He explores the transformation impact that companies like Google could make if they invest in regional talent to develop locally relevant AI solutions.
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- Technology
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For Agritech, Digital Health Startups, Enormous Opportunities In Africa and India
Startups around the world should begin looking more seriously at emerging markets for their growth plans. This isn’t just about impact and making the world a better place, this makes really good business sense.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Tags
- agtech, manufacturing, startups
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Samsung goes big in India with ‘world’s largest mobile factory’
Samsung India CEO HC Hong described the factory as a "symbol of Samsung's strong commitment to India and a shining example of the success of the government's 'Make in India' program."
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- manufacturing