The Special Projects office supports new enterprises and strengthens existing enterprises in Uganda through technology business incubation, capacity building programs/activities, consultancies and carrying out of various business researches.

The core projects include:

• Technology Business Incubation
• Orchestration of a Capacity Building Programs / Activities
• Enterprise/Business related Research
• Consultancy Services

Like the other departments in UIRI, Special Projects office enhances the purpose of UIRI which is to improve capacity and competence of the private sector in undertaking viable industrial production processes, increasing the sector’s ability to produce high quality marketable products through enhanced research, training and technical know-how, hence leading to rapid industrialization for the benefit of the people of Uganda.

The Special Projects office strives to achieve the following goals:

• Accelerate the rate of growth of business enterprises and micro enterprise ownership
• Increase awareness of business ownership as a viable means of economic self-sufficiency
• Accelerate employment for and increase wealth of the depressed regions
• Transfer technologies from universities and major corporations to the region

Some of the Special Projects office ambitions include the following:

• Organizing and conducting business related research successfully
  The office conducts on-going research activities geared to accelerating enterprise growth and success.
• Orchestrating Enterprise Capacity Building Programmes / Activities
  The office is expected to initiate and or coordinate capacity building programmes or activities aimed at strengthening the technological capabilities of small/start up enterprises and aimed at ensuring that they have access to and make use of relevant technology through:
  • Community Outreach Programmes
  • Workshops and/or seminars
  • Business lectures
  • Business Talks ( television or radio talk shows)
  • Training
• Consultancy Services
  The office is open to offering a range of consultancy services including though not limited to; Business Idea Generation, Innovation and Technology Development, Business Planning, Management, Product Development, Market Analysis/Penetration, Technology Evaluation, Business Computing, Business Planning, Negotiation, Market Research & Sales Strategy Development, Client Relations and Management, Marketing, Strategy, Business Development, Financial Analysis, Business Accounting, Emerging Markets, Business Plan Development, Start-up Environment, Product/Market Alliance, Partnerships and Leadership.
• Setting up Business Development Centres in various regions of Uganda
  To cater for entrepreneurial development and success nation-wide, UIRI will establish similar centres in the various regions of Uganda.

What have we achieved

• Strengthened Incubator Capability.The Business Incubation Centre was launched.
• Improved the Center’s customer service with less down time and better help desk response times.
• Setting up an Industrial Resource Centre
• Successfully equipped the ICT training centre with more terminals
• Setting up a desktop publishing unit
• Setting up a video conferencing facility
• Delivered trainings and consultancies to more than 40 different groups of entrepreneurs
• Ably represented the institute at various local and international symposia and workshops
• Successfully created a selection and exit criteria for prospective incubatees
• Drawn up a practical guide.Elements of a Successful Business Plan for prospective incubatees