Start your engines, robots, and devices – it's time for a little competition!
The ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW) is back and seeking top social innovators from around the world for its 2019 annual competition. This global contest is open to any individual or organization interested in taking a “hardware-led social innovation” to market. Applicants should have an existing prototype and have conducted some initial user outreach. In-person showcase events will take place in:
India—April 4
Kenya—May 9
USA—June 13
Apply now through February 8, 2019 to win a share of US$500K* in prizes and a design and engineering review led by industry experts. Also check out the resources we've curated at the end of this message, specifically to help you through your engineering journey.
Visit www.thisishardware.org to begin your application and follow @ASMEishow on Twitter, and tweet about hardware led social innovation using #thisishardware.
For questions, contact: info@thisishardware.org.
*A total of US$500,000 will be awarded in cash and in-kind services, which includes a cash prize of US$10,000-US$50,000 to each of the nine winners, based on individual need for scaling their respective hardware solution.
Inventor’s Guide
Hardware is hard, but the ASME ISHOW is trying to make it easier by curating resources to inform your engineering journey. We've even created a design & engineering review framework specifically for hardware led social innovation – you will find it below, along with ISHOW FAQs, recommended reading and many more resources.
Maker Spaces Map
There are a growing number of spaces where you can meet fellow hardware innovators and make things. In collaboration with the Ananse Group we have curated a map of incubators, fab-labs, co-working centers and maker spaces.
The Lemelson Foundation's Guide to Impact Inventing
This report focuses on what differentiates an invention-based entrepreneur from traditional entrepreneurs and highlights what support invention-based entrepreneurs require, what resources are available, what ecosystem level gaps remain, and what tangible actions can be taken to fill these gaps.
ASME Global Development Review
Also, check out the ASME Global Development Review (@DemandASME) a case study based publication that is showcasing how engineering & design diligence is solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.
Engineering For Change
E4C’s mission is to prepare, educate and activate the international engineering workforce to improve the quality of life of underserved communities around the world. They provide resources and platforms that accelerate the development of impactful solutions and ensure public health and safety around the globe.
The RAN team, Makerere University is available to support potential applications through the process of emerging best. To receive support, please contact
Harriet Adong / Communications Manager
ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) Makerere University School of Public Health
P.O Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-414-343597
Mob: +256-772-470626/ +256-701-100478
Email: hadong[at]ranlab.org
Website: www.ranlab.org
Skype: harriet.adong4
Makerere University School of Public Health, through the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, is accepting applications for a two-week online short course on Introduction to Decision Modelling for Economic Evaluation.
The course will introduce participants to the principles and practical application of decision modelling in economic evaluation, covering Markov modelling, evidence synthesis, model development, validation, sensitivity analysis and interpretation of results to inform policy and resource allocation.
Convened by Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa, Associate Professor of Health Economics at MakSPH, the course will feature Dr. Joseph Babigumira, Managing Consultant at GHE Consulting, as Guest Lecturer.
The training targets health professionals, researchers, policymakers, students and other individuals interested in applying decision modelling to economic evaluation.
Dates: 9–20 November 2026 Time: 3:00–6:00 PM EAT Mode: Online via Zoom Fees: UGX 800,000 (Ugandans) | USD 270 (non-Ugandans) Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The meeting in session.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Dingyu Ou (R).
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Zhuoqiong Xia (R).
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
Makerere University School of Public Health invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for three positions under the Wellcome Trust-supported NETOMA study, which examines the coexistence of health worker shortages and unemployment among qualified health professionals in Africa.
Available Positions
Research Officer To coordinate longitudinal research, data management, quality assurance, and statistical analysis across study sites. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21465
Policy Scientist To undertake health workforce policy research, evidence synthesis, qualitative analysis and knowledge translation. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21468
Research Assistants To support participant recruitment, field data collection, research documentation, and analysis. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21470
Application deadline: Friday, 16 October 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT .