Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Icecairo: a platform for green technology innovations in Cairo
Published in Daily News Egypt on 08 - 07 - 2013

Icecairo, the green technology innovation hub will celebrate the opening of its newly renovated space in downtown Cairo very soon, say its founders. The centre is open for business, but its official launch had been postponed due to the political situation in the country.
Icecairo is a "not-for-profit, community-powered green technologies innovation hub," said Tobias Mathes, product-designer and head of the fablab, the Fabrication -Laboratory of icecairo. "We work together to solve environmental and social challenges using the brilliance of the icecairo community, and to turn these challenges into green businesses."
He explained icecairo's goals of solving Egypt's environmental issues: "fablab's rapid prototyping machinery creates and evolves these solutions into real world green products. These products can then be sold by sustainable businesses, powered by and employing young Egyptians," Mathes said.
"There is a need for green technologies… and of course sustainability," he added.
Icecairo was initiated by GIZ, the German provider of international cooperation services for sustainable development. After establishing two branches in Addis Ababa (iceaddis) and in Germany (icebauhaus), GIZ created icecairo in 2012. In order to fulfil its objective to employ local youth, icecairo later formed an Egyptian team made up by Adam Molyneux Berry, cofounder, Muhammad Radwan, space manager and Salma Adel, product designer.
Icecairo offers space to work and develop social and environmental projects, in collaboration with and supported by the icecairo team. There are "two spaces for innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship," Mathes explained. "Our physical hub (in downtown) is a space where people can collaborate, attend and run events and use the fablab to make green products. Our online hub is a collection of platforms: a website, a wiki, a mapping system, an e-learning platform and an e-commerce site; all designed to maximise collaboration within the icecairo community."
Icecairo is designed to not only offer tools, but also the skills, resources and networks of its community to help news ideas emerge. "[We] create new opportunities for economic, environmental and social benefit," said Mathes, who leads workshops for laser-cutting and 3-D printing among others. Extra assistance for projects is provided on demand as long as the whole icecairo community can benefit from it.
"Anyone can come and suggest ideas," Mathes stated, adding that users "can make use of the expertise within the community and begin using the co-working space to collaborate with others who may be interested in furthering their idea." He added that they can use the fabrication laboratory to make prototypes, and test if their product is ready for business.
Icecairo has so far produced a solar water heater with locally affordable materials, and a biogas digester. Products expected in the near future are air-filtration masks, a vertical wind turbine and a mini-green-house.
"Together with our partners in civil society, the private sector, government and academia, icecairo believes it can turn almost any challenge in to a sustainable business opportunity," Mathes said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.