Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) and the Polytechnic of Namibia (PON) launched a new research project on urban resource efficiency on 1 October 2015. Main themes for the project are clean water and sanitation, renewable energy, housing and ICT and Internet of Things (IoT) in Namibia.
The two-year project is called NAMURBAN (Urban Resource Efficiency in Developing Countries) – pilot study of Walvis Bay, Namibia. NAMURBAN is financed by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation Tekes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, SAMK and ten Finnish companies. It has a total budget of 440.000 euros, approximately 6.6 Million NAD.
NAMURBAN widens the co-operation between SAMK and PON
SAMK has entered into a co-operation agreement with PON on issues relating to land and sea since 2012. The co-operation has been related to especially on the marine research vessel R/V Mirabilis and maritime education.
NAMURBAN widens the co-operation between SAMK and PON from education to research and development work. The aim of the project is to develop a framework for urban resource efficiency utilization in developing countries using Namibia as the pilot country. NAMURBAN is part of Business with Impact (BEAM) program, funded by Tekes and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. BEAM goals are to meet the needs of developing countries and to provide Finnish companies with new business opportunities in these growing markets.
Ten Finnish companies active in the project
In the project, ten Finnish companies are actively participating and presenting high know-how and technology on housing, renewable energy, water and sanitation as well as ICT and IoT applications. The companies are Aquapure Ltd., Fimuskraft Ltd., GA90 Recycling Ltd., IntLog Ltd., Naps Solar Systems Inc., Rannan Teollisuuskone Ltd., Riffid Ltd., Sansox Ltd., Scanhomes Ltd., and SWOcean Ltd.
The specific solutions of NAMURBAN are based on the analysis of the current situation and needs for urban technology and systems in Namibia.
Coastal town Walvis Bay as the pilot site
Namibia’s vision 2030 states that by the year 2030, Namibia will be a prosperous and industrialized country, developed by its human resources, enjoying peace, harmony and political stability. Namibia’s National Development plan (NDP4) focuses on increased income equality, employment creation, and high and sustained economic growth. The economic priority areas are logistics, tourism, manufacturing and agriculture.
The research project will be the first to study and develop a sustainable technological concept on urban environments in developing counties using a pilot site, coastal town of Walvis Bay in Namibia. The expected results include proposals for solutions on affordable housing, increase in renewable energy and clean water in Namibia.
Text by project manager Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Ph.D.
Photo: The NAMURBAN project was officially launched on 1st of October 2015 in a ceremony at the Residence of H.E. Ambassador of Finland, Ms. Anne Saloranta in Windhoek, Namibia. In the photo, from left Ms., Ambassador Anne Saloranta, Embassy of Finland, Windhoek (Namibia), Dr., Rector Tjama Tjivikua, Polytechnic of Namibia, and Dr., project manager Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences. Photo by Heikki Koivisto.
SAMK Agora 