National SME Incubator Scheme – Providing a thrust to start up development in mauritius

Dissemination of completed initiatives under Travel, Tourism and Entertainment and Innovation & Financial Innovation

17 July 2025

The MRIC hosted a half-day seminar focusing on Travel, Tourism and Entertainment Innovation. The event served as a platform to showcase four completed funded projects that leverage digital transformation to address critical industry needs and contribute to reshaping Mauritius’ tourism landscape beyond the traditional "Sun, Sea, and Sand" experience.

Immersive Discovery (3D Virtual Visit of a National Heritage Site)

Presented by Mr. T. Sungaralingum of Hinode Smart Solutions Ltd, this project introduced a fully interactive 3D virtual tour using virtual reality technology along with a quadrilingual mobile application for the Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO World Heritage Site. The initiative aims to bridge the past and present through immersive storytelling and educational tools. A representative of the Aapravasi Ghat noted that the mobile app has been particularly useful in supporting visits by school groups.

MauNature Digital App

Presented by Ms. L. Nowzadick of from Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd, this application promotes nature-based tourism by providing digital resources covering 66 natural attractions, including interactive maps and ecological guidelines. Evaluated using the Technology Acceptance Model, the application seeks to encourage conservation-oriented behaviours while increasing the visibility of lesser-known natural sites in Mauritius.

Closing the Skills Gap in Tourism and Hospitality

Presented by Dr. S. Rughoobur-Seetah of Charles Telfair Company, this study addressed employment and skills challenges within the tourism and hospitality sector. It developed a sequential exploratory framework centred on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to support clearer career pathways, strengthen workforce development and improve the retention of graduates in the industry.

Mauritian Treasures App

Presented by Mr. R. Ramoly of LinearArc Solutions Ltd, this mobile application showcases local foods, cultural heritage, flora and fauna, and recreational activities. It represents a significant step towards using digital tools to enrich the overall tourist experience while increasing the visibility of lesser-known places on interest across the island.

The seminar highlighted the important role of research, innovation and digital technologies in enhancing Mauritius' tourism offering, while demonstrating how locally developed solutions can contribute to a more diverse, engaging and sustainable visitor experience.

By Dr. K Tatoree and Mr. P Hurnath

3 September 2026

The results and outcomes of five completed projects under the Financial Innovation thematic area were recently showcased. The five projects demonstrate how research, technology and innovation can contribute to improving financial services, business processes and operational efficiency.

MRIC/SISM/FI-2401 Risk Management and Reporting System

Project Leader: Mr Melwyn Madelon

Company: Enabling Environments Ltd

The project developed an integrated digital solution for risk management, compliance and reporting within the financial services sector. The system incorporates technologies such as AI, biometric verification and automated data processing to improve customer verification, risk assessment, document management and regulatory reporting, while reducing administrative burdens and strengthening transparency and traceability.

MRIC/IBG3/FI-2501 AI-Powered Digital Customer Onboarding Agent (AIDO)

Project Leader: Mr Ashraf Esmael

Company: Algodynamix Ltd

AIDO is an AI-powered digital customer onboarding solution designed to make the onboarding process faster and more efficient. It combines multilingual voice and chat capabilities with automated AML/CFT screening, CRM integration and workflow automation. The solution has been deployed with more than 10 automated workflows and has the potential to reduce onboarding from several days to less than one hour.

MRIC/SISM/FI-2303 Application of IOT in Telematics Insurance

Project Leader: Mr Jean-Karl Pétricher

Company: Inovanet Smart Energy Ltd

This project explored the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in insurance, particularly for improving risk assessment and claims efficiency in warehousing. The project resulted in two prototypes, sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, energy use and door status, as well as a monitoring dashboard. The solution provides opportunities for more effective risk monitoring and the development of innovative insurance products.

MRIC/IBG3/FI-2502 Debt Exchange Enhancing Liquidity & Market Efficiency in Private Debt Trading

Project Leader: Mr Jerome Benoit

Company: Finance Club Ltd

The project developed a secondary marketplace for peer-to-peer loans, allowing investors to transfer eligible loan positions before maturity and thereby improve liquidity and portfolio flexibility. The platform includes automated lender substitution, digital contracts, real-time capital reconciliation and settlement controls. The project describes the platform as Africa’s first secondary marketplace for peer-to-peer loans.

MRIC/PCS/FI-2401 Interfacing Attendance Access Control with Business Software

Project Leader: Mr Bilal Chamroo

Company: B Chamroo Ltd

This project focused on integrating business software with access control and time-attendance systems to create a more unified solution for SMEs. By connecting HIKVISION access control and attendance terminals with business software, the solution aims to simplify operations, improve visibility and control, and reduce the need to manage fragmented systems separately.

The event provided an opportunity to be apprised of emerging developments and innovative solutions, engage with researchers and stakeholders, exchange knowledge, and explore potential collaboration opportunities.