NITEC

Introduction

The Nepal Innovation Technology and Entrepreneurship Center (NITEC) is part of a program initiated by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT to provide science and technology assistance for developing countries. Located in the Himalayan region of Nepal, NITEC is based in the Pokhara University (PU) campus. NITEC aims to promote the science and technology capacity of PU through the development of innovative technology that can be commercialized. It is pursuing projects to improve the quality of life of local community through appropriate technology based business.

Starting from 2015, Pokhara University (PU) jointly agreed with Handong Global University (HGU) in South Korea to set up the Nepal Innovation Technology & Entrepreneurship Center (NITEC) in the Pokhara University (PU) campus. NITEC is supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) to provide science and technology assistance for developing countries. NITEC has been supporting and managing numerous joint projects between Handong Global University (HGU) in South Korea and Pokhara University (PU) in Nepal. Projects range from the development of technology to commercialization, and encourage the active participation of Nepalese experts and local communities. NITEC intends to foster the appropriate technology-based manufacturing industry and spread local business models to other communities in order to raise their economic self-sufficiency. By developing appropriate technology items based on local needs into sustainable profit-making businesses, NITEC seeks to promote community-specific regional development that resolves the problems of poverty in each community.

The opening ceremony of Nepal Innovation Technology & Entrepreneurship Center (NITEC) was held in 26^th January 2016.

Vision

1. Developing Communities through Appropriate Technology-based Community Business
2. Revitalizing the Foundation of the Manufacturing Industry in Nepal through Techno-Ventures

Goals

1. Linking University to Community.
2. To develop innovate technology for processing mountain product for community enterprises.
3. Improve the livelihood of people in mountains of Nepal.
4. Shaping future of Youth in Nepal.

Our Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Niteccenter/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9yAW6lKxlA7Cc3VrjIjskA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LgEcdF933Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEBSK9EQkC4&t=57s

Research and Business Development (R&BD) Projects

NITEC has been running projects that aim to develop innovative technology for processing special Nepalese products for business purpose. R&BD programs promote the development of Nepal through various business related projects. Proposal came directly from the problems in Nepal and it goes under research process and commercialization after being trained in Appropriate Technology workshop. The R&BD projects conducted so far are given below:

Phase I

Phase II

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS IN ALLO REFINING SYSTEM

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Allo have been used by Nepal’s rural communities since ancient times and are currently the major source of income in the mountainous and Himalayan regions of Nepal. The sustainable collection and processing of these products for fabrication of clothes, bag etc. is considered a promising avenue for income generations by rural communities.

It is evident that traditional methods of Allo refining technology not only make their work laborious but also time consuming. Hence NITEC has developed and introduced several appropriate technologies in Allo Refining System (ARS) to surpass difficulties faced by villagers. It comprises of several technologies like Rocket stove, Pressurized cooker, beating machine and washing system.

COOKING SYSTEM

Cooking system ensured minimized labor intensity and time consumption.

Rocket stove and Pressurized vessel

NITEC developed improved Rocket stove which is fully metallic and is portable. This rocket stove is found to be much more efficient in terms of minimized firewood consumptions compared to traditional stove. Not only that it is easy to transport, install and maintain. The major feature in this rocket stove is that it contributes in reducing carbon emission.

Pressurized cooker with drainage pipe that can easily drain hot ash water after Allo is cooked. Here more improved fiber quality is maintained due to even and thorough cooking.

BEATING SYSTEM

Beating is the most laborious process in Allo fiber processing. Innovation of beating machine by NITEC  has reduced hand work in Allo processing and is done efficiently and conveniently by the help of a beater.

WASHING SYSTEM

Recycled water system that NITEC developed to wash the beaten Allo fibers is found to be highly efficient in water deficient areas. It not only reduces the excess water consumption, but also saves time of the villagers who had to make long distance to reach down the nearby stream.

ALLO COTTONIZING MACHINE

Nepalese Rural Enterprise use hand and comb to hackle and card the Allo fibers which is very difficult and tedious. Understanding the hassle work of villagers, NITEC is developing Allo cottonizing system which consists of fiber opener and carding machine to facilitate quality of Allo thread production.

 Achievements so far in Allo processing

There are a lot of achievements in Allo refining process. Comparing traditional methods, Technology developed by NITEC brought revolutionary changes in Allo Refining system in rural areas of Nepal.

LOKTA PAPER PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Lokta is one of the underutilized Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) of Nepal ranging from east to west of mid hills between 2000m to 4000m. Handmade paper-making is a traditional craft of the inhabitants of rural Nepal. Few works have been done to improve the process of lokta paper production. Here are some of the technology adopted and developed by NITEC for Lokta paper production and value added products of Lokta.

PULPING MACHINE

Use of pulping machine for pulp making is more convenient compared to traditional method. Use of beater machine minimizes the labor cost and improves the paper quality as it become more even in thickness, which is one of the parameters to measure its quality.

ELECTRIC BOILER

Electric Boiler (E-Boiler) and its development is intended to address concerns about fossil fuels, such as its high carbon dioxide emissions during lokta and allo cooking, an important factor in global warming. This electric boiler has environmentally friendly operation without requirements for venting of the combustion product.

SCREEN PRINTING

NITEC supported and managed helping rular community people of Village Lokta Enterprises through  increasing their own self-managed local cluster level institutions to access sustainable livelihoods on a long term basis. Upgrading skills and improve design development capacity in Lokta paper enhance the livelihood opportunities by increasing their skills.

People explore the exciting process of screen printing. They learn how to register and layer designs patterns in screen printing frame, and print with multiple colors. They are introduced relevant contextual artists and screen printing mechanism.

TECHNOLOGY USED IN SCREEN PRINTING

Light box and Printing Table

Screen printing is done by using a wooden frame with screen printing cloth stretched over it, then there is a photo emulsion applied to the screen, dried and then exposed to a bright light source:

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

DEHYDRATOR

NITEC is developing electric dehydrator to preserve fruits, vegetables and animal proteins after harvest by removing moisture from food to aid in its preservation. Removing moisture from food restrains various bacteria from growing and spoiling food.

Incubation Program

ATET Workshop

Appropriate Technology based Entrepreneurship Training (ATET) is a program initiated by Nepal Innovation Technology & Entrepreneurship Center (NITEC) targeted to community people and university professors & students. NITEC holds ATET workshops in order to discover appropriate technology-based business ideas and turn them into business. ATET provides participants the concept of Appropriate Technology and Entrepreneurship skills which helps in finding business items and starting up a business for the improvement of their livelihood and the development of their communities. Outstanding business items that are discovered through the workshops receive needed support in technology development, production and distribution from an R&BD team composed of HGU and PU faculty and experts in technology and business management. Some workshop participants are given the opportunity to pursue pilot projects and receive business incubation services.

NITEC has held 2 ATET workshop for University professors, 4 community ATET workshops and 2 Students ATET workshops.

PU ATET workshop

The purpose of this program was to provide the participants with the concept of Appropriate Technology and Entrepreneurial skills to find business items and start up a business for the development of local communities. The program offers tools and techniques to develop integrative thinking skills that enable attendants to meet the challenges of growing and sustaining a social enterprise. Through the program, the attendants will be able to taste the entrepreneurial spirit, learn the basic skill-set necessary to start a new business as an Entrepreneur. Till date 2 such workshops have been organized by NITEC.

Fig: some glimpse of 1^st PU ATET

Fig: Some glimpse of 2^nd PU ATET

Community ATET workshop

Appropriate technology based entrepreneurship training for community organized by NITEC so far are:

Fig: some glimpse of 1^st C-ATET workshop

1^st and 2^nd C-ATET organized were team-based competition where each team contains 4-5 participants. The participants develop their business ideas throughout the workshop and give final presentations at the end. The teams were evaluated on the basis of business commercialization and business model evaluation and are provided financial award and mentorship support to pilot business.

Fig: some glimpse of 2^nd C-ATET workshop

Lamjung C-ATET was organized in 8^th and 9^th October 2018 in the local community hall of Tarapu village of Khudi village municipality. 34 participants form 5 different villages interested in lokta business participated in the program. The participants got knowledge about the operation of lokta business, its market and value added products. Business model canvas, community business were other topics of presentation. ‘Karmasudha Nepali Kagaj tatha Allo dhago Udyog’ was established as a result of this training.

Fig: Some glimpse of Lamjung C-ATET

Allo refining System training workshop was organized with the purpose to distribute ARS system developed by NITEC. This workshop was organized from 18^th to 23^rd August 2018 in two different phases. A total of 27 different village enterprises from 12 different districts of Nepal, with total number of 83 participants, attended the program. This program offered tools and techniques through CATET to develop integrative thinking skills that enable community people to meet the challenges of advancing and sustaining their business enterprise based on Allo. Through the program, the participants were able to taste the entrepreneurial spirit, learn the basic skill-set necessary to develop their own going as an Entrepreneur.

Fig: Some glimpse of ARS workshop

Students ATET workshop

Appropriate technology Entrepreneurship Training for students S-ATET organized by NITEC so far:

S.N

Name of 
Workshop

No. of 
Participants

Course 
Duration

Theme

Outcomes

1

S-ATET

58

4 days

Innovate Yourself!  
Shape your Future!

3 registered 
companies

2

S-ATET

72

3 days

Idea shaping future!

2 prototype

The first S-ATET was held at Royal Palm Resort from, Pokhara with the theme:  Innovate Yourself! Shape your Future!  With  the  objective  to  empower  students  to  be  an  entrepreneur  based  on appropriate  technology. It had participation of 12 projects with total number of 58 students from various colleges of Pokhara University. This residual workshop was held for 4 days. Students were taught through various real life examples from entrepreneurs and professors. Concepts of business model design and Business feasibility analysis were introduced to the students. With the presentation of the business idea on the last day, evaluation committee judged their final work and 5 were selected for the prototype development. Among those, three ideas are presently registered companies. They are:

1. Sathi Automation Pvt Ltd.

2. Dev Tech Nepal 

3. Smart Auto machine Udhyog 

Fig: Some glimpse of S-ATET I

The S-ATET II program was organized in Royal Palm Resort, Pokhara from 14^th November to 16^th November 2018 with the theme: Idea shaping future!  As per scheduled 14 teams from different colleges with total number of 64 students participated in program and one team has maximum of 5 participants. Among the 14 selected teams 2 were selected for the prototype development and awarded with NPR 50,000 each.

The implemented business ideas are:

1. Fertilizer Dustbin
2. Mobile Refrigerator

Fig: some glimpse of SATET workshop II

Students Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP)

Student Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) is structured as a 3 months program. This program aims to develop and sharpen the skills that drive and elevate innovation and entrepreneurship. Based on a minimum of 20 students per session, the program is targeted to the Pokhara University students at free of cost. Lecture and other activities will run for 4 hours per week for 3 months. Attendance will be tracked closely; the students will be divided into group and motivated to develop the proposal for a rural village. The developed proposal will be evaluated and will go for prototype development. The successful prototypes will get wildcard entry in the S-ATET program organized by NITEC.

Future Innovation Expert (FIE)

It is a program initiated to develop the skill of Students. Developed as a 4 months course we help student to work along with the NITEC staffs to develop the reports and feel the actual workspace environment.

Business Incubation Management Workshop

To empower Faculties of Pokhara University, NITEC organized business incubation management workshop with following purposes:

1. Make faculties of PU aware about the need of Incubation center.
2. Provide the basic guideline about Incubation center.

The workshop was organized from December 7, 2018 to December 8, 2018. All together 26 faculties from PU and NITEC took part in the workshop. The lectures were presented by Asutosh Tiwari and Niraj Khanal

Fig: some glimpse of Incubation Workshop

Research Laboratories

NITEC has established research laboratories in various departments inside Pokhara University. The purpose of setting up laboratories inside Pokhara University is to facilitate students and faculties to carryout research on related field with advance equipment.

Departments of Pokhara University

Engineering:

1. Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Introduction

This laboratory is designed to understand the working principle of Micro hydropower plant and photovoltaic energy. The main purpose of the lab is for performance testing, demonstration, education and training.

Related Curriculum

• Thermal science
• Solar Photovoltaic
• Engineering Hydrology
• Hydropower Engineering
• Switch Gear and Protection

Equipment

• 3 kW Solar System
• Pelton turbine base Pico Hydro set

Figure 1: Solar system

Figure 2: Pelton turbine base Pico Hydro set

2. Appropriate Technology IoT laboratory

Introduction

This laboratory is designed to conduct experiments and exercises related to Internet of Things (IoT), microprocessor and electric & electronics fields. It aims to improve engineering student’s ability in the field if the electric and electronics, especially IoT and microprocessors, through various education. The IoT is the internet-networking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items- embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.

Related curriculum

• Basic Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Devices
• Microprocessor
• Microcontroller

Equipment

• Oscilloscope
• Power Supply
• Digital Multi-Meter
• Various tools regarding electronics (Soldering tool, wrapping tool, bread board and etc.)
• Various kits regarding microprocessor and electronics(8086, 8051, Arduino UNO R3, Raspberry Pi 3)

3. Manufacturing Technology Research Laboratory

Introduction

This laboratory is designed to conduct manufacturing exercises and product design. It aims to improve engineering students’ ability to design the machine and manufacture a prototype or product.

Related Curriculum

• MEC 110 Mechanical Workshop
• MEC 111 Thermal Science
• MEC 120 Engineering Drawing
• MEC 130 Applied Mechanics I

Equipment

• Lathe
• Milling Machine
• Drilling Machine
• Band Saw
• Cutting Machine
• Compressor
• Grinder
• Electrical Drying Machine
• Welding Machine
• Electrical Winch
• Shaker
• 3D Printer( located in Room No. 406, Engineering Building)
• Electric Reel
• Protection Device: Helmet, Gloves, Foot wear, etc.
• Ladder
• Scraper
• Lever block
• Driver, Wrench, Hammer, Plier, filament, etc.

Figure 4: Drilling Machine

Health Science

Himalayan Herbs Research lab

Introduction

This laboratory is designed to conduct experiments and exercises related to herbs extraction and developing Himalayan herbal business product fields. It aims to improve health sciences students’ ability to develop the extraction skill and product making fields, and also the class experiments through education.

Figure 5: Himalayan Herb Research Lab

Related Curriculum

• PHG 181 Pharmacognosy I (Medical Botany)
• PHG 282 Pharmacognosy III (Natural Product Chemistry)
• PHG 381 Pharmacognosy IV (Natural Product Chemistry)
• PHG 382 Pharmacognosy VI (Traditional System of Medicine)
• PHT 401 Pharmaceutics X (Cosmetology)
• Pharmaceutical Laboratory- 17 (Cosmetology)

Equipment

• pH meter Uptin/ Coslab/NBM
• Magnetic stirrer with heaterdigital RPM Coslab (CLE-119)
• Analytical Balance 1 ug-220 mg International calibration sys
• Triple distillation plant
• Water bath 10 L, Shaker set
• Vortex shaker (CLE-124), Heating mantle
• Refrigerator with freezer, Grinder, Printer

Business Incubation

Community Techno Business Incubation (CTBI)

Introduction

CTBI has been established to improve economic status of communities with the proper usage of appropriate technology while doing community business.

Mission

• To bring economic reformation in rural communities.

Functions

• To train rural village members/leaders and introducing appropriate technology necessary in relevant villages.
• To strengthen community identity by identifying key resources available within the community.
• To create strong identity of local products.
• To foster community based business.
• To build country’s economy through local/national product.

Demo site

Demo site was constructed to conduct various experiments based on Allo fiber processing and lokta paper processing as well as show room for information & promotion of different products developed with Allo and lokta.

Figure 6: Under construction demo site building

Figure 7: Display of Allo and Lokta products

Figure 8: Equipment for Allo Fiber processing developed by NITEC

Figure 9: Equipment for Lokta processing developed by NITEC

Our Impact

NITEC has made impacts huge impact on livelihood of rural Nepal through technology development and entrepreneurship programs. NITEC has distributed its Allo refining systems (ARS) in different parts of Nepal. In order to facilitate Lokta business NITEC has established enterprises in two different parts of Nepal. Not only that, NITEC is assisting students from Pokhara University to develop their prototype and start company to facilitate their business in different sectors. Software Company to help and develop country in IT sector as well as ARS Company to develop different relevant technologies for Allo refining are two future soon to happen projects of NITEC.

ARS Villages: NITEC has distributed its Allo refining systems to 18 different villages’ whole over Nepal. NITEC has distributed its Cooking system, Beating machine and Washing system to ease their working process.

Fig. ARS distribution in Nepal.

Table: Table depicts the Enterprises where NITEC has assisted in technological development and help them to promote their business.

Lokta Villages: NITEC has help in establishment of Lokta Enterprises in Myagdi and Lamjung. Adhivara Community Nepali Handmade Paper Production Group located in Malika Gaunpalika, Myagdi and Karma-Sudha Nepali kagaj tatha Allo Dhago Udhyohg in Khudi, Lamjung. NITEC is helping in Technological development and business development. The major products of the enterprises are Handmade Lokta paper and Lokta paper handicrafts like note books, side bags, hand bags, mat, lampshade, tissue box etc.

Student Company: NITEC has helped students to carry out project and establish company on the basis of their successful project. Already three established companies are Smart Auto-machine Udhyog for Poultry, Sathi Automation (Ho-Mation) and Dev-Tech Nepal for Automatic Drip Irrigation.

Software Company: To work and help in IT sectors, NITEC is planning to open a software company very soon.

ARS Company: In order to develop Allo enterprise and to assist communities in Allo business, NITEC is soon planning to open up an ARS (Allo Refining System) company. ARS Company will distribute technical systems and assist enterprises in business and market linkage of Allo.