Late last year I visited members of the EssentialTech team at EPFL: they spent some time describing some of the challenges faced when transferring technology for use in developing nations. Examples included dealing with frequent power outages and extreme operating conditions (such as using hermetically sealed, protective suits in stifling temperatures or mechanical equipment where there are high quantities of dust and sand).
EssentialTech has just launched a new – and free! – MOOC on edX entitled “Technology Innovation for Sustainable Development”.
Here’s a teaser video for the course:
The content looks extremely interesting. Here’s the description:
Technology innovation can be a great enabler for development in low and middle-income countries. This course presents a methodology and an approach to develop impactful innovations that have the power to foster sustainable development.
Whether you are from an industrialized or a developing country, whether you…