The fourth industrial revolution is characterized by the following:
Cyber-physical systems and marketplace: IT systems today are at the
heart of the production system. More efficient and innovative systems
will be required to increase the production cycles.
heart of the production system. More efficient and innovative systems
will be required to increase the production cycles.
For our local industries, this will call for investments in these
systems. This is supported by a strong ICT sector which is supported by
strong ICT graduates in the marketplace.
systems. This is supported by a strong ICT sector which is supported by
strong ICT graduates in the marketplace.
Smart robots and machines: In 4th industrial revolution, these will
become intelligent, which means they will be able to adapt, communicate
and interact. This will enable further productivity leaps for companies,
having a profound change on cost structures, skills landscape and
production sites.
become intelligent, which means they will be able to adapt, communicate
and interact. This will enable further productivity leaps for companies,
having a profound change on cost structures, skills landscape and
production sites.
As this is technically an advanced area for Rwanda, the quickest way
to this is to encourage big player investors in all industry categories,
who can bring in transfer of knowledge through their already advanced
systems.
to this is to encourage big player investors in all industry categories,
who can bring in transfer of knowledge through their already advanced
systems.
Rwanda Development Board has already and continues to work closely
with different stakeholders to improve the investment climate.
with different stakeholders to improve the investment climate.
To this end, the recently enacted investment code has provisions for
‘first mover advantages’ and this can quickly be used to attract key
investors who would bring in the much needed advanced technologies in
smart robots and machines.
‘first mover advantages’ and this can quickly be used to attract key
investors who would bring in the much needed advanced technologies in
smart robots and machines.
Big data: Rwanda has invested in top notch ICT infrastructure,
including a countrywide fiber optic network, and the ongoing LET network
roll-out, which makes Rwanda infrastructure ready. However, there is
need to increase ICT skills in these new fields, and it is well
advisable for ICT students to invest in these skills.
including a countrywide fiber optic network, and the ongoing LET network
roll-out, which makes Rwanda infrastructure ready. However, there is
need to increase ICT skills in these new fields, and it is well
advisable for ICT students to invest in these skills.
Currently a lot of open education platforms like Coursera and MIT
have free big data courses that graduates should take advantage of.
have free big data courses that graduates should take advantage of.
New quality of connectivity: In Industry 4.0 (4th revolution) the
digital and real worlds are connected. Machines and human beings will
constantly exchange digital information via Internet protocol which is
now referred to as internet of things. This is where government
intervention comes in, to ensure the right standards are in place for
this new connectivity.
digital and real worlds are connected. Machines and human beings will
constantly exchange digital information via Internet protocol which is
now referred to as internet of things. This is where government
intervention comes in, to ensure the right standards are in place for
this new connectivity.
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Youth and
ICT should be at the forefront of these developments, along with
International Telecommunication Union, which is leading in these
standards, in order to ensure these are adopted as fast as possible.
This will also make it attractive for investors who know in advance
Rwanda standards on this.
ICT should be at the forefront of these developments, along with
International Telecommunication Union, which is leading in these
standards, in order to ensure these are adopted as fast as possible.
This will also make it attractive for investors who know in advance
Rwanda standards on this.
Energy efficiency and decentralisation: Climate change and scarcity
of resources are megatrends that will affect all industry 4.0 players.
Rwanda is making tremendous efforts to meet its 536MW target by 2018 and
has a comprehensive plan that looks at all energy sources.
of resources are megatrends that will affect all industry 4.0 players.
Rwanda is making tremendous efforts to meet its 536MW target by 2018 and
has a comprehensive plan that looks at all energy sources.
The good news is that Lake Kivu is finally yielding its precious
‘energy gold’, while is quite a relief, but the government needs to
quickly package more investment opportunities with regard to Lake Kivu
potential. This is a key gap across Africa and needs government
commitment to invest in energy infrastructure.
‘energy gold’, while is quite a relief, but the government needs to
quickly package more investment opportunities with regard to Lake Kivu
potential. This is a key gap across Africa and needs government
commitment to invest in energy infrastructure.
It’s obvious that the hard infrastructure has its gaps that need to
be plugged, but even more important is the soft infrastructure of skills
and government policies.
be plugged, but even more important is the soft infrastructure of skills
and government policies.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has in
place an industrialization policy that has guided the setting up of
various industrial parks in the country. But this policy will need
revision to capture the 4th industrial revolution.
place an industrialization policy that has guided the setting up of
various industrial parks in the country. But this policy will need
revision to capture the 4th industrial revolution.
