The Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) hosted a high-level delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The visit, which took place on the afternoon of Monday, 24 November 2025, provided the global guests with an immersive tour of the university’s pioneering Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialisation Centre (TTLCC).
The delegation was led by a representative of JICA Zimbabwe Office, and included senior staff from JICA’s headquarters in Tokyo and its regional offices in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. The primary objective of their visit was to witness first-hand the impactful work being conducted at the HIT Innovation Hub and to engage with the TTLCC team and JICA Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV), Miss Mayui Kitamoto, who is assigned to the centre.
The JICA Zimbabwe representative expressed gratitude for HIT’s continued partnership in the JOCV programme. He stated, “We applaud the extensive work you are doing under the innovation hub, and we are grateful for the opportunity to meet your TTLCC team.” This visit was arranged as a key activity for the international JICA staff to observe the practical implementation and success of their volunteer programme within a dynamic academic environment.
The TTLCC, the focal point of the tour, is the engine room of HIT’s strategy to transform groundbreaking academic research into market-ready products and viable commercial enterprises. It plays a critical role in protecting the university’s intellectual property, fostering student-led start-ups, and bridging the gap between academia and industry. During the tour, the JICA delegation was presented with a showcase of successful projects incubated at the centre, including recent award-winning innovations like the Mutumwa AI platform by Afrainity Technologies and the oxygen-aluminium battery project.
The presence of Miss Mayui Kitamoto, a JICA volunteer working within the TTLCC, underscores the deep-rooted and collaborative nature of the partnership between HIT and JICA in technology development, incubation, transfer and commercialisation for rapid national industrialisation. Her work contributes valuable cross-cultural expertise and supports the centre’s mission to equip student innovators with the skills to compete both locally and globally. The JICA visit served as a perfect platform to highlight the tangible outcomes of this symbiotic relationship.
HIT’s Registrar, Mr Hebert Njonga, commented on the significance of the event, stating, “Hosting a delegation of this calibre from JICA is a testament to the global relevance of the work we are doing at HIT. It is not just a visit; it is an affirmation. It demonstrates that our model of integrating technology transfer with student entrepreneurship is being recognised on the international stage as a best practice. This engagement opens doors for deeper collaboration, potential investment, and knowledge exchange with one of the world’s leading development agencies.”
The successful visit by JICA officials is expected to strengthen existing ties and pave the way for future collaborations, potentially in areas of curriculum development, advanced research, and further technical volunteer placements. It marks a significant moment in HIT’s 20th Anniversary year, highlighting its unwavering commitment to “Designing the Future” and its growing stature as a key player in Africa’s technological transformation.
