TAJYIRE Group and Rwanda Energy Group Explore Strategic Innovation Partnership to Advance Rwanda’s Energy Future

By Prince Boris Cyubahiro.

Kigali — March 12, 2026. A new chapter in Rwanda’s innovation and energy ecosystem is beginning to take shape as TAJYIRE Group and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) explore collaboration aimed at accelerating technological solutions for the country’s energy sector.

The discussions took place at REG headquarters in Kigali, where the Research and Development team from TAJYIRE met with officials from REG’s Research and Development Department.

The meeting followed the official launch of TAJYIRE’s Research and Development Department on February 26, an initiative designed to complement the company’s commercial technology ecosystem by strengthening its capacity for applied research, innovation, and industrial problem-solving in Rwanda.

The visit came at the invitation of Janvier Kabananiye, Director of Research and Development at REG, who attended the R&D launch and encouraged continued engagement between the two institutions.

For both organizations, the meeting signaled more than a routine exchange of ideas—it represented the early stage of a strategic relationship between industry innovators and a national energy institution tasked with powering Rwanda’s development.

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Building an Innovation Bridge Between Industry and National Infrastructure

As Rwanda continues to expand access to electricity and modernize its energy systems, the role of research, innovation, and technology commercialization is becoming increasingly important.

Speaking after the meeting, Lambert Gahungu, Founder and CEO of TAJYIRE Group, emphasized that meaningful technological progress requires close cooperation between innovators, institutions, and policymakers.

“We believe innovation must begin with understanding real challenges faced by institutions and citizens. Working with REG allows us to ground our research in practical problems and design solutions that are relevant to Rwanda’s context,” he said.

The meeting brought together engineers, researchers, and technical specialists from both organizations to discuss system challenges, technological opportunities, and areas where collaborative research could produce impactful results.

For Director Janvier Kabananiye, collaboration between institutions and innovators is key to strengthening Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem.

“Partnerships between industry, researchers, and national institutions are essential for transforming research into practical solutions. By working together, we can accelerate the development of technologies that respond to Rwanda’s real energy challenges,” he said.

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Addressing Key Challenges in Rwanda’s Electricity System

Among the issues discussed were operational challenges within electricity distribution systems, particularly those affecting Cash Power meters, which are widely used across Rwanda.

REG officials noted that in the past year alone, approximately 60,000 meters were damaged or experienced technical issues, illustrating the need for stronger technological innovation and localized solutions.

The discussions explored how research partnerships could help:

• Improve the durability and reliability of metering technology
• Reduce energy system losses
• Simplify electricity loading processes for customers
• Introduce smart technologies that improve energy management

TAJYIRE’s research team shared several ideas currently under development, including concepts for locally manufactured smart meters under Rwanda’s “Made in Rwanda” initiative.

Such innovations could allow the country to design technologies specifically suited to the local environment while strengthening domestic technical capabilities.

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Advancing Smart Technology for Energy Efficiency

Beyond metering systems, TAJYIRE researchers presented a broader vision focused on energy efficiency and smart technology integration.

Among the innovations discussed were:

• Sensor-based lighting systems that automatically turn off when rooms are unoccupied
• Smart home control technologies enabling users to manage appliances remotely via mobile phones
• Household technologies designed to reduce overall energy consumption

These solutions reflect a growing global trend in which digital technology and energy systems increasingly intersect, enabling smarter and more efficient energy use in homes and businesses.

For Rwanda, such innovations could contribute to the country’s goals of sustainable energy use and technological self-reliance.

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Developing Rwanda’s Innovation Ecosystem

The discussions also explored broader collaboration frameworks, including the possibility of establishing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TAJYIRE Group and REG.

Such a partnership could include:

• Joint research projects
• Technical knowledge exchange
• Collaboration on innovation pilots
• Support for locally developed technologies

REG officials explained that many infrastructure projects are implemented through competitive procurement processes, but emphasized that research collaboration and knowledge sharing remain important pathways for innovation partnerships.

For Rwanda’s growing innovation ecosystem, partnerships between national institutions and private innovators are increasingly viewed as essential.

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From Marketplace to Innovation Platform

Over the past decade, TAJYIRE Group has grown from a technology marketplace into a broader ecosystem that integrates commerce, skills development, research, and technology commercialization.

The company operates through three interconnected pillars:

• Electronics Marketplace
• Technical Training Center
• Research and Development Department

Together, these initiatives support thousands of entrepreneurs and technicians working within Rwanda’s electronics and technology sector.

By strengthening its research capacity while maintaining its strong commercial platform, TAJYIRE aims to bridge the gap between innovation, practical deployment, and market-ready technology solutions.

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A Shared Vision for Rwanda’s Technological Future

As Rwanda continues investing in science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic transformation, collaboration between institutions such as Rwanda Energy Group and innovation platforms like TAJYIRE may become increasingly important.

By fostering cooperation between industry, researchers, and national institutions, Rwanda is positioning itself to develop home-grown technological solutions capable of addressing the country’s most pressing development challenges.

The engagement between TAJYIRE Group and Rwanda Energy Group may therefore represent more than a single institutional visit—it may mark the beginning of a broader effort to place research, innovation, and commercialization of local technologies at the center of Rwanda’s energy future.

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