Inclusive Innovation

Inclusive Innovation is a research project, with Dr Timothy Whitehead, a senior lecturer at Aston University, Birmingham being the principle investigator. The project supports people with disabilities in South Africa by training them in the skills needed to set up manufacturing businesses. Tim is supported by Professor Deon de Beer and Dr George Torrens.

The research conducted by the Inclusive Innovation team found that young people with disabilities were often taught manual skills, such as basket weaving. Whereas their preference would be to learn skills in design, technology, CAD, advance manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Based on this research, the Inclusive Innovation team are working with students from the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein to take them through two business case studies. The students will work with two small wheelchair manufactures in South Africa, both setup by people with a disability; Able Manufacturers and Real Steel Wheelchairs.

The project is funded by the British Council and the Innovation for African Universities programme, and it hopes to encourage more local innovation, international knowledge sharing and networking within sub saharan Africa in years to come.

Inclusive Innovation branding

Tim was after a flexible brand that could sit alongside the Innovation for African Universities brand, and could rely on icons and small illustrations as much as photography. Tim has started applying the brand already with banners, leaflets and social posts popping up! It’s definitely a brand with energy!

We know this project will go onto do some great things, and we recommend following their progress:

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For more information about the two case studies involved; Real Steel Wheelchairs (Wheelchairs for rugby) and Able Manufacturers (Rural Wheelchairs) have a look at the Inclusive Innovation website where Tim has put together videos for more information. The British Council overview video is also included:

Watch videos