TMG Makerspace’s mission is to give young Africans access to knowledge, skills and resources necessary to innovate and solve African problems. This is achieved through our programmes that focus on Idea Development, Skills and People Development, and Product Development and Projects.
TMG Makerspace is experienced in the design, set up, and implementation of makerspaces, as well as the development and execution of impactful makerspace programs. With a proven track record in the field, we have successfully established and operated the Tshimologong Makerspace for Wits Tshimologong Precinct since 2018 to date. Additionally, we recently launched the Bafokeng RoboticsLab, a makerspace in Phokeng, in collaboration with the Royal Bafokeng Nation Development Trust, to empower and serve the Bafokeng Nation.
We regularly train and upskill the youth, especially previously disadvantaged youth, in technologies such as 3D Printing, Internet of Things, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual reality, and Data Science using an non-intimidating and practical approach. Participants attending our programmes are trained enough to be employable or build products that solve our most pressing problems or can be commercialized.
We design and implement projects in partnership with academic institutes, corporate companies and government entities that lower barriers of entry to emerging (4IR) technologies and provide market access to the digital innovators. One such programme we undertook is the Tshimologong Entreprise Development’s JPMorgan YaBasadi in 4IR Incubation Programme where we are contracted to manage the technology development for 12 startup companies by offering technology coaching and building. We are managing the implementation of the annual City of Johannesburg Smart City Innovation Challenge, a City of Johannesburg Smart City Office initiative in partnership with University of Witwatersrand. The aim of this project is to find and develop smart city technology solutions that respond to urban and community challenges faced by the city and its citizens to assist in Accelerating service delivery, Enhancing operational efficiencies and Improving city liveability and safety.
We assist innovators formulate and refine their ideas by hosting Design Thinking and Prototyping Workshops. These workshops are designed to help innovators fully understand problems they are committing to solve, and expose them to practical prototyping methods to help them build initial versions of their products. Some of the young innovators who attended the Prototyping Workshop built prototypes such as Medical Smart Bracelet, Hybrid Drone, and Home Maintenance Robots, an important step to building their products and businesses.
We offer support to makers and innovators who build products using or in Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality, and Digital Fabrication with the focus on CAD, 3D Printing and Laser Cutting, another way of enabling Africa to solve its problems. This is achieved by giving them access to space, equipment and materials to enable the build of Prototypes and Minimum We design and implement projects in partnership with academic institutes, corporate companies and government entities that lower barriers of entry to emerging (4IR) technologies and provide market access to the digital innovators.
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