{"id":110814,"date":"2025-09-24T18:41:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T18:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwanda-urged-to-develop-home-grown-ai-solutions"},"modified":"2025-09-24T18:59:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T18:59:26","slug":"rwanda-urged-to-develop-home-grown-ai-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/rwanda-urged-to-develop-home-grown-ai-solutions","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda Urged to Develop Home-Grown AI Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Rwanda must move beyond being a consumer of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and start building its own customised solutions for critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, and water management, experts said during a major scientific gathering in Kigali.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the second African Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA) on September 23, Abebe Geletu, German Researcher Chair at AIMS Rwanda, emphasized that Africa risks being left behind if it relies solely on foreign-developed AI tools.<\/p>\n

Delegates at the second African Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA) on September 23<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of today\u2019s software and applications are AI-driven, but Africa should not just be a user,\u201d Geletu said. \u201cWe need to train a generation that understands the foundations of machine learning so we can develop technology that addresses Africa\u2019s unique challenges from equitable water distribution and energy storage to food conservation and security systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geletu said the conference, which brought together leading scientists from across the world, is helping Rwandan and African students and researchers gain direct exposure to world-class expertise.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur young scientists now have clear directions on which problems to tackle,\u201d he said. \u201cThis knowledge will not only shape their research but also foster entrepreneurship by turning scientific insights into practical solutions for Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Pu Li, Head of Computer Science and Automation at Germany\u2019s Technische Universita\u0308t Ilmenau, said a joint project with AIMS Rwanda is already producing tangible results. The project, Systems Optimisation for Sustainable Resources Utilisation, has developed models to optimise water supply systems, integrate renewable energy into microgrids, and improve food storage technologies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus is on modelling, simulating, and optimising complex systems,\u201d Prof. Li said. \u201cBy applying these techniques locally, African researchers can build robust, context-specific solutions rather than relying on imported software that may not suit regional needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Experts highlighted that AI-driven research can also create opportunities for start-ups and innovation. Examples include solar-powered food storage automation, intelligent microgrid management, and embedded systems for healthcare and agriculture \u2014 all areas where Rwanda can lead if it invests in skills and research capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about creating real impact,\u201d Geletu said. \u201cAfrica\u2019s young scientists are now equipped to become leading researchers and entrepreneurs who can solve the continent\u2019s pressing problems while contributing to global scientific progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second African Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA) on September 23<\/p>\n

Panelists engage in a discussion at the second African Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA) on September 23<\/p>\n\r\n