Our Consortium Partners

The International Development Innovation Network program was implemented by a global consortium of academic and institutional partners. IDIN’s partners used their diverse expertise to support IDIN in many ways:

Academic Partners

IDIN’s academic partners developed and delivered curriculum, conducted research, and advanced promising technologies in classes and during field visits.

Institutional Partners

IDIN’s institutional partners provided support to local innovators and communities to enable technology development and dissemination in developing contexts. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology D-Lab


Academic Partners

Cambridge, MA

MIT D-Lab is building a global network of innovators to design and disseminate technologies that meaningfully improve the lives of people living in poverty. The program’s mission is pursued through interdisciplinary courses, technology development, and community initiatives. D-Lab leads the consortium and hosts IDIN Headquarters. 

Principal Investigator: D-Lab Founder & Co-Director Amy Smith

View Site

Colorado State University Center for Advancement of Sustainable Enterprise

Academic Partners

Fort Collins, CO

CSU’s Center for Advancement of Sustainable Enterprise (CASE) educates entrepreneurs to build prosperity in emerging market economies. CASE, and its global partner, the United States International University’s SEMBAA program, recruit IDIN Network members into their business programs in Colorado and Kenya.

Principal Investigator: CSU College of Business Senior Associate Dean for Administration Dan Ganster 

View Site

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Intermediate Technology Transfer Centre

Academic Partners

Kumasi, Ghana

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Intermediate Technology Transfer Centre works closely with KNUST’s academic units to research, co‐develop, and transfer technology to support small and medium scale industries in Ghana. KNUST helps IDIN support local innovation and innovators in Ghana.

Contact: Director of the KNUST Technology Consultancy Centre George Yaw Obeng

View Site

Olin College of Engineering Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship

Academic Partners

Needham, MA

Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship is an undergraduate social innovation program jointly delivered by Olin College of Engineering and Babson College. Engineering and business students work in teams to develop social ventures to address poverty through a combination of business and technical innovation. Teams work with communities and partners around the world to design and deploy products and ventures with the potential for regional scale. The program portfolio includes a number of IDIN Network projects developed in collaboration with IDIN Network members.

Principal Investigators: Associate Professor of Design and Mechanical Engineering Benjamin Linder & Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Jose Oscar Mur-Miranda

View Site

University of California, Davis Program for International Energy Technologies (PIET) and D-Lab

Academic Partners

Davis, CA

UC Davis’ Program for International Energy Technologies and D-Lab work with underserved communities to develop and commercialize low-cost technologies that address their needs. Interdisciplinary student teams work with international mentors and partners, including IDIN Network members, to address energy, agriculture, health, and environmental issues.

Principal Investigator: Founder & Director of UC-Davis PIET and D-Lab Kurt Kornbluth

View Site

Singapore Polytechnic International Learning Express and D-Lab

Academic Partners

Singapore, Singapore

Singapore Polytechnic is an educational institution committed to holistic education with a global orientation. Singapore Polytechnic seeks to build capabilities with a focus on design thinking and ethnographic research to identify community needs. Through Singapore Polytechnic’s Learning Express Program, interdisciplinary and multinational student teams, including IDIN Network members, co-create sustainable innovations that impact developing communities in the ASEAN region.

Contact: Singapore Polytechnic Deputy Principal Hee Joh Liang

View Site

ECHO East Africa Impact Center

Institutional Partners

Arusha, Tanzania

ECHO East Africa is regional branch of the global nonprofit ECHO, which aims to reduce hunger by supporting sustainable agriculture and the development of appropriate technologies. ECHO East Africa supports IDIN Network members and promotes local innovation in Tanzanian and the surrounding area.

Contact: ECHO East Africa Director Erwin Kinsey

View Site

National Technology Business Centre

Institutional Partners

Lusaka, Zambia 

The National Technology Business Centre (NTBC) is a national commercialization and technology transfer agency that connects innovation seekers and suppliers. NTBC seeks to effectively promote, market, and transfer suitable technologies and innovations. NTBC supports IDIN Network members and local innovation in Zambia.

Contact: National Technology Business Centre Acting Director Yule Mwiwa

View Site

Caos Focado

Institutional Partners

São Paulo, Brazil

Caos Focado specializes in social innovation consulting and management. Caos Focado runs an innovation center in the Vila Nova Esperança community in São Paulo, Brazil and assists IDIN in disseminating and developing socially-focused technology projects.

Contact: Cao Focado Social Department Director Miguel Chaves

View Site

Tet Centre

Institutional Partners

Pader, Uganda

Caritas runs the Tet Centre, an IDIN-supported innovation center in Pader, Uganda. The Tet Center empowers people through the promotion of technology transfer and creative capacity building as an effective mechanism for positive social transformation. The Tet Centre extends the capacity of IDIN’s Network to support local innovators and projects focused on social impact in developing economies. 

Tet Centre Manager: Ben Lakony

View Site

Pages