HARAMAYA (HU)–Haramaya University signed a memorandum of understandings (MoU) with two organizations, Independent Business Accelerator Ethiopia (IBA Ethiopia) and the Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute (EMDIDI), to enhance its technology commercialization and engagement in community services.
The Norway-based IBA Ethiopia focuses on stimulating a sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship among startups in growing markets in Africa, with a particular focus on Ethiopia. The company works in providing assistance and follow-up to startups during their early stage of establishment. IBA Ethiopia assists with commercialization through seed funding and linking the startups with the right local and international investors for further scaling-up.
The second company Haramaya University signed a MoU with, EMDIDI, was founded in 2013 by the FDRE’s Council of Ministers with the main objectives of developing Ethiopia’s meat and dairy sector so as to make it competitive in the global market. EMDIDI formulates policies, strategies, directives and action plans for the development of meat and dairy industries in the country. It also conducts research and studies to identify relevant and advanced technologies applicable to the development of the sector, transfer these technologies to the industry and support them to enter the market thereafter, and encourage the industry to establish pertinent research and development unit.
The MoU with IBA-Ethiopia will help the University establish public-private partnership between parties for the purpose of facilitation, commercialization and acceleration of investments on startups that are incubated by the University; promote university graduates and young innovators so as to provide them with opportunities to transform their creativity into profitable business ventures by linking them with potential investors from local and abroad; enable commercialization of creative ideas, self-employment, and transfer of technology, as well as create managerial and financial capability.
The MoU with EMDIDI will aid to undertake research and capacity building work on dairy sector in East Hararghe Zone or Oromia Region, Dire Dawa, and Jigjiga of Somali Region to build capacities of dairy cooperatives (particularly, Jiru Siresa Milk and Milk Products Cooperative), and Dire Dawa and Jigjiga camel milk processing companies.
Prof. Jeylan Woliye Hussein, Delegated-President of the University, underlined that such agreements with external companies and institutions are crucial for the University’s improved and organized community services. Moreover, Mr. Tadesse Guta, Deputy Director-General of EMDIDI, indicated that EMDIDI has been working with Haramaya University and expressed readiness of EMDIDI to deepen the cooperation with the University. Prof. Kebede W/Tsadik, Vice-President for the University’s Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, emphasized that “signing the MoUs is not the end but the means to establish collaboration to effectively carry out our responsibilities, hence we shall give due attention to activities mentioned in the MoU to meet the objectives of these MoUs.”
Source: Haramaya University