With technical guidance from UNDP, Makerere University and Gearbox Pan African Network, over 100 different types of equipment were procured for the the Makerere University Innovation Pod, with equipment specifications being critical to inform the acquisition of the most suitable tools to optimize use of the unipod space.

Each technical space within the unipod has been equipped with specialized equipment based on its purpose. For example, the Computer Aided Design (CAD) rooms have technical design computers, the Creatives Lab has multimedia equipment like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) sets, the Creative Studio has audio production, photography and videography equipment, the Textiles Studio is equipped with sewing machines, embroidery machines and a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) fabric cutter., the Electronics Studio has become a designated space for creating Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), and the Makers’ Space is equipped with various machinery including 3D Printers and soldering machines. Across the unipod, spaces have also been equipped with running water, internet access, and electricity phases suitable for the respective equipment being used.

Installation

Given the magnitude of equipment installed throughout the unipod, the UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab team used a mapping process to identify key university staff and onboarded Gearbox Pan African Network to support installation of a variety of equipment, predominantly for the electronics workshop and CNC workshop.

Suffice to say, the Accelerator Lab did not forgo the opportunity to involve university students in this process. Alongside students, staff and Gearbox engineers, all hands were on deck. During installation, all stakeholders were become acquainted with the equipment within each section of the unipod, with students becoming increasingly curious and excited as they had the opportunity to use the very equipment they had been learning about in class. It was fulfilling for the Accelerator Lab team to see the capacity of students growing, with knowledge transfer between the Accelerator Lab team, university staff, Gearbox engineers and students creating a very positive outcome of the installation process.