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Dissemination of MRIC Funded Initiatives
Application of IOT, AI and Robotics in Agriculture
A half-day seminar on the application of Intelligence of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics in agriculture, hosted by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) under the Innovation Boost Grant, was held on 16 September 2024 at 14:00 hrs, in Ebène. The seminar aimed to present the findings of the project, which focuses on advancing technological solutions within the agricultural sector.
The Officer-in-Charge of the MRIC, Dr Nitin Kumar Gopaul; the Research Coordinator of MRIC, Dr Vickram Bissonauth; and the Director and Head of Applied Research of Neos Core Ltd, Mr Kewin Cesar, who is the project leader was present. In his speech, Dr. Gopaul emphasized the seminar's role in inspiring innovators to drive technological improvements and incorporate them into new goods and services that benefit society and businesses. He stated that focusing on innovation in agriculture has the potential to significantly increase productivity, which can help address critical environmental concerns.
This project has one collaborator: Prointegra Ltd, which is situated in Bulgaria.
The project started on 05 July 2023. The project aimed to use emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and robotics in agriculture to combat climate change, address labour shortages, automate manual tasks, and attract younger generations to the field. It went through three distinct milestones. The first milestone involved acquiring and integrating four key IoT devices: an automatic weather station, an automated irrigation system, a farmbot robotic system, and an agricultural sprayer drone, connecting them through a unified software platform.
The second milestone centered on installing and calibrating these devices, though the process was hampered by complex software and poor weather conditions. In the third milestone, the project focused on innovating data extraction from the devices and integrating it into a single platform, complemented by the development of a mobile app to enhance user accessibility.
To promote the initiative, Neos Core Ltd conducted public awareness sessions over eight months, reaching out to farmers, students, and corporate groups. An Agri Tech Park was also established at Mon Desert Alma to demonstrate these advanced technologies and engage potential customers.
By Dr. Vickram Bissonauth
An Innovative Digital Platform to enable the transformation of industry for a circular economy
A seminar was held on An Innovative Digital Platform to enable the transformation of industry for a circular economy through synergy and materials data sharing under the Proof of Concept on 4th October at 14:00.
Who is the project leader who presented the project?
Ms Stéphanie Bouloc, Fondatrice | Directrice, La Déchetèque
Which company/institution?
La Déchetèque
Any collaborator(s)?
Project Collaborator:
- Dr. Mahendra Gooroochurn Project Assistant
- Souraj Boolaky / Isabelle Chowree IT Dev. Specialist
- iFlair Marketing Supplier
- Claire Joseph/Shayem Sognog
Project started when?
1st Nov 2022
Outcomes of the project?
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Ouverture d’un magasin physique - Kase Ranze
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Moyenne de 2.6 Tonnes/ mois de matériaux réutilisés et évités du landfill avec Kase Ranze
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Elargissement des services aux entreprises sur l’économie circulaire et gestion de déchets
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Développer la plateforme digitale pour offrir à l'industrie un outil avec des caractéristiques clés pour le partage de données sur les matériaux et services
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Faciliter la transition vers l'économie circulaire
By Dr. Vickram Bissonauth
Postharvest Processing of Shellfish from local sources: an automated facility for oyster depuration and storage
MRIC-SISM-BG-17: Postharvest Processing of Shellfish from local sources: an automated facility for oyster depuration and storage
A half day seminar was organised for the project “Postharvest Processing of Shellfish from local sources: an automated facility for oyster depuration and storage “funded by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) under the Innovation Boost Grant Scheme within the Blue and Green Innovation Thematic. The project was an initiative of the company Mauricoast Ltd, found at Grand Barachois, Poudre D’or. The project started in September 2023 and was completed in May 2024.
The half day seminar was held in the premises of MRIC on Wednesday 9th October 2024 in the presence of the Executive Director of the MRIC, Professor Theesan Bahorun; the Managing Director of Mauricoast Ltd, Mr Yashodhar Boygah; the Principal Scientist of Mauricoast Ltd, Dr Devarajen Vaitilingon and other personalities from different institutions and Ministries.
The findings of the project were presented by the project leader, Dr Devarajen Vaitlingon. The Postharvest Processing project aimed to set up an innovative depuration and storage facility for shellfish at the Grand Barachois of Poudre d'Or. Consequently, Mauricoast Ltd, intends to set up the first state-of-the-art shellfish depuration facility in Mauritius and to develop a prototype of a small-scale depuration kit that can be easily accessible to local shellfish fisherfolks and farmers.
A fully automated recirculating seawater system (RAS) for oyster depuration at Grand Barachois Poudre D’or was successfully designed and installed. The Project has been successful in meeting its objectives which was providing Mauritius with the first oyster depuration facility and a stand-alone system that can be extended to local oyster fisherfolks.
By Dr Poonam Veer Ramjeawon
Innovation Project Title: Impactors.io - A Platform for Social and Grassroots Innovation
A seminar was held on Impactors.io - A Platform for Social and Grassroots Innovation under the first Call for Proposals- Innovation Boost Grant (CFP-IBG1) on Thursday, 24th October 2024 at 13:00 hrs.
Who is the project leader who presented the project?
Mr Tony Lee Luen Len, Director, Ecosis Ltd
Which company/institution?
Ecosis Ltd
Project started when?
June 2023
Outcomes of the project?
Impactors.io is digital platform designed to unite various stakeholders in the social and grassroots innovation ecosystem, primarily in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region.
It connects social innovators, enterprises, investors, academia, and government institutions, offering a space where these actors can collaborate and share resources. At its core, the platform functions as a social network, allowing innovators to post and control the visibility of their projects. Through its repository of projects, other actors within the ecosystem can view and engage with relevant information, fostering collaboration and action.
The platform also promotes cross-sector collaboration, bringing together the private, public, and non-profit sectors to address complex social and environmental issues.
It can potentially offer information and access to funding opportunities, mentorship programs, and project management training, enabling innovators to overcome common challenges and push their initiatives forward.
Ultimately, Impactors.io seeks to amplify the impact of social and grassroots innovation by providing a supportive environment for knowledge-sharing, resource access, and cross-sector collaboration. The platform's unique role in fostering partnerships and driving innovation is crucial in advancing the overall ecosystem and helping projects succeed. It helps to create sustainable solutions for social, economic, and environmental challenges.
By Dr Aveeraj Peedoly