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Dissemination of IT, Emerging and Enabling Innovation initiatives
6 November 2025
GreenOrigin: Blockchain-Powered Trust in Organic Produce
The seminar focused on the dissemination of research findings from the GreenOrigin project, a decentralised application (dApp) built on the Polygon blockchain platform to enhance the traceability of organic and sustainable produce in Mauritius. The research findings were presented by Mrs Isabelle Domijan Bowler, Director of Regional Training Centre and Principal Investigator, together with Mr Arvin Beekharry of AgriCare Consultants Ltd.
The project focused on developing GreenOrigin, a blockchain-based decentralised application designed to enhance traceability and trust within the organic and sustainable food supply chain in Mauritius. A comprehensive market study involving farmers, distributors, retailers and consumers was initially undertaken to assess demand, challenges and expectations regarding traceability within the organic sector.
Based on the findings, a prototype of GreenOrigin was developed using the Polygon blockchain platform, enabling real-time tracking of produce from farm to fork. Key functionalities include crop data entry, certification validation and a QR code-enabled traceability interface.
As part of its latest milestone, the application was tested in real-world scenarios involving an organic farmer, a selected distributor and a retailer. The testing validated the usability and reliability of the system, with feedback highlighting its intuitive design, improved traceability features and capacity to provide real-time visibility across the supply chain.
The next phase of the project will focus on further refinement of the application, expanded stakeholder testing and the potential scaling of the solution across Mauritiu
19 February 2026
The MRIC held a seminar entitled “Designing the Future with Data: AI-Powered CRM and Digital Twins”. The seminar focused on the dissemination of research findings from two projects exploring the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and digital technologies in the retail, real estate and construction sectors.
Dodobird.ai – Proving the market readiness of an AI-powered product recommendation engine for retailers in Mauritius
The presentation was delivered by Mr Thierry Lincoln, Co-Founder of LeadsCloser.com and Principal Investigator. Formerly known as DodoBird.ai, LeadsCloser is a next-generation AI-first Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform designed for retailers and real estate agents. The solution enables teams to manage leads naturally through voice and chat, making customer relationship management more accessible and intuitive.
The platform incorporates a customer-facing AI agent that engages prospects and provides personalised product recommendations. An internal AI agent simultaneously enriches CRM data, updates customer insights and automates follow-up activities, demonstrating how AI can support more efficient customer engagement and lead management.
Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for the improvement of the construction industry
The second presentation was delivered by Mr Vikram Bhujun, Managing Director of Pro-Design Engineering Consultants Ltd, and Mr Neelesh Ramseebaluck, Senior Building Services Engineer.
The project explores the use of Digital Twin technologies to improve efficiency, quality and long-term performance within the construction and building operations sector. By integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) models with real-time IoT data and immersive visualisation tools such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), the research addresses challenges including design inefficiencies, construction waste and high operational costs.
The project also demonstrates how Digital Twin data can support practical design benchmarks and right-first-time execution. In addition, it investigates the use of AI-driven analytics for predictive maintenance, fault diagnostics and improved energy performance, contributing to smarter approaches to design, construction and facility management.
Together, the two projects demonstrate how AI, IoT and data-driven technologies can be applied to address practical industry challenges, from improving customer engagement and lead management to enhancing the efficiency and performance of the built environment in Mauritius.
10 April 2026
Parking bays that pay for themselves, and sustainability reporting that a business can act on: these were the ideas on the table when the MRIC hosted a half-day seminar on IT and Emerging Technologies Innovation. Held under the Proof-of-Concept Scheme, the seminar carried the theme “Turning Data into Impact – Smart Parking and Sustainability Intelligence Platforms”.
The seminar showcased the findings of two research projects, with the aim of highlighting innovative research outcomes in IT, emerging technologies and the digitalisation of ESG, while encouraging knowledge sharing among researchers, practitioners and stakeholders across the technology sectors.
ParkSmart: turning parking infrastructure into a media and data platform
The first presentation was delivered by the Director and Co-Founder of ParkSmart Ltd, Mr Vichitr Ramchurn. It introduced an innovative revenue model built on geo-targeted digital advertising, effectively turning parking infrastructure into a scalable media and data platform. Initial pilot implementations have validated the robustness, scalability and adaptability of the solution across a range of environments, from commercial centres to smart city ecosystems.
Kcious: closing the gap between sustainability ambition and execution
The second presentation was given by the Founder of Kcious Ltd, Mrs Padhyana Luvna Arnassalon-Seerungen. Kcious is a digital platform designed to assess, structure and accelerate Environmental, Economic, Social and Governance (EESG) performance within organisations. Built to bridge the gap between sustainability ambition and operational execution, it offers a data-driven diagnostic tool that evaluates a company’s maturity across key impact dimensions.
Together, the two projects illustrate how locally developed technology can turn everyday data — a parking bay, a sustainability metric — into measurable economic and social value.
22 June 2026
The MRIC held a half-day seminar on IT and Emerging Technologies Innovation under the theme “Bridging Creativity and Technology: Advancing Music Innovation and Digital Art Platforms.”
The event brought together researchers, project coordinators, industry professionals and stakeholders from the creative and technological sectors to explore how emerging technologies are opening new opportunities for music innovation and digital creative platforms.
The seminar featured the findings of two research projects supported within the fields of IT, emerging technologies and the creative industries. It provided a platform to share research outcomes, promote dialogue between practitioners and stakeholders, and encourage wider adoption of innovation in Mauritius’ creative ecosystem.
Developing an expanded Cajon set with digital integration to alternate acoustic traditional drums kit
The first presentation was delivered by Mr Dinakar Unnoop, Art & Technical Executive at Smart Concept Creation Ltd. The project focused on enhancing a traditional percussion instrument through digital integration, demonstrating how technology can support new forms of musical expression and performance.
CIFE: Testing for digital transformation in the creative & cultural industries
The second presentation was delivered by Ms Malina Cheeneebash, Director of CIFE Ltd. The project explored the development and testing of a digital platform designed to improve visibility, accessibility and economic opportunities for artists and creative practitioners.
Through these presentations, the seminar demonstrated how research and innovation can help strengthen Mauritius’ creative economy by connecting traditional practices with digital tools, opening new pathways for collaboration, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
By Dr V Bissonauth, Mr Z Soreefan, Ms Y Khuttur and Dr N Soobhany
