Smart Mobility Lab launched

This article is adapted from a media alert about the launch event.

The Smart Mobility Lab has been launched in Kigali to foster innovation, promote sustainability, and advance digital transformation in the mobility sector. The hub is a partnership between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa), Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda, and others.

The Smart Mobility Lab represents a unique collaboration between VWMSR, GIZ, and CMU-Africa, harnessing the collective expertise of industry leaders, academic institutions, and international development agencies to address the complex challenges facing Rwanda's transportation system.

This synergy in promoting smart mobility will facilitate the sharing of expertise across development, industry, and applied research, leading to heightened awareness, targeted challenge resolution, and the creation of mobility solutions that emphasize equity and sustainability.

The Smart Mobility Lab is being built using open data and open source, including code developed by Trufi Association, a German NGO that digitizes informal and multimodal transport and develops mobility apps and services for cities in the Global South, including Accra, Ghana; Cochabamba, Bolivia; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and others. The developed apps and services will be enriched by real-time locations of buses that the Swedish company and consortium partner Enrouteq will deliver.

Accelerating the deployment of electric mobility in Rwanda is the motivation of the Mobility Lab partners Kabisa, a Rwandan e-mobility start-up, and PEM Motion, a German Consulting Company.

Serge Kamuhinda, CEO at Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda, emphasizes the significance of this partnership: "We are thrilled to join forces with GIZ and CMU-Africa in launching the Smart Mobility Lab. This initiative underscores our commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to drive sustainable mobility solutions in Rwanda."

Tim Brown, director of research at Carnegie Mellon University Africa, explains, "At CMU-Africa, we believe that the ability to move freely and transport goods is not just about getting from point A to point B. By harnessing digital, electric, and other technologies, we can pave the way for a healthier, cleaner, and more prosperous future. Through collaborative efforts with partners like GIZ, and VW, this Smart Mobility Lab will serve as a beacon for collective action, sharing expertise from development, industry, and research realms. Together, we will enhance awareness, tackle challenges, and forge equitable and sustainable mobility solutions for all."

As for GIZ, The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the development of innovative, sustainable mobility solutions. The objective of this effort is to make mobility more accessible and convenient for everyone. To achieve this, the Smart Mobility Lab, on one hand, promotes digital solutions that help decision makers and mobility providers improve their services, and solutions for passengers to receive more transparency about their mobility options. On the other hand, partners of the Mobility Lab are working towards faster deployment of electric mobility for the benefit of clean air, less noise, and decarbonization.

In this way, the project contributes to environmental sustainability while fostering digital transformation within the local mobility sector in Rwanda, demonstrating GIZ's dedication to innovative and efficient smart mobility solutions.

The Smart Mobility Lab will be a collaborative platform for research, innovation, and capacity-building, focusing on data-driven approaches to enhance urban mobility.