ABOUT US
Our observation
The future of many African PhD students and researchers living in Africa is a situation that requires special attention. Indeed, many of them do not imagine having a professional career elsewhere than in research or in academic. Some may try to get hired by companies, but this is definitely not the major way taken by PhD holders. Furthermore, research and higher education fields are unable to absorb all the newly PhD holders every year. Also, the lack of funding and equipment (regarding just this point) greatly limits the development and productivity of academics who have managed to integrate the system.
It is also frequent to notice that PhD thesis very often end up in the private library of its author or in the archives of supervisors, while some of these works meet a current and / or societal need.
Thus, it is unfortunate to note that very few of these PhD students and PhD holders think and plan to create their own employment with all the knowledge they have. This is probably due to the lack of structure and means that can orientate them in this direction. REC was created to fill this void.
Our goals
- To Challenge mentalities. To lead the PhD students and PhD holders to believe in their work potential but also in their own ability to design, to manage and to develop businesses that will impact their generation. Teaching and research, academic are not the only possible way to use their knowledge, skills and talents.
- To Inspirer to Innovate. Meetings, in the form of workshops or seminars, are the DNA of REC events. These meetings are opportunities to bring together students, PhD students, researchers, academics and entrepreneurs with (or not) an academic background and who are now enrolled in an entrepreneurship career. These moments of sharing and networking allow these entrepreneurs to talk about their journey, to listen to and promulgate advice to researchers / future researchers, and conversely to them to discover entrepreneurship and to be inspired by these researcher-entrepreneurs.
- To Multipliy. In the short term, REC's ambition is to see more and more PhD holders and research entrepreneurs. In the medium term, these entrepreneurship projects will develop into successful businesses. In the long term, these doctor-entrepreneurs will be able to testify about their social impact (solutions developed to problems, job creation ...).
Our vision
We want to see a generation of African PhD students, PhD holders, researchers, all type of academics more involved in the field of entrepreneurship. We want to see them valorize their skills acquired - on a human, technical or theoretical level - by the creation of companies. Why ? Because it will allow them to have a positive and concrete impact on their community and on its economy. This could be a key, a lever for the development of research in Africa and, more importantly, these researcher-entrepreneurs would become a source of inspiration for the next generations.
Word of end (or beginning ?)
Do not hesitate to join us in this adventure. What if we give it a name? Call it ... "the REC adventure"!
Warm greetings.
REClys,
Inès, Brunel and Rodrigue, co-founders of REC
THE CO-FOUNDERS
Inès L. Ngassam T.
Researcher and lecturer in materials and civil engineering. Motivated by the desire to see young African researchers leading research in Africa while having a real impact in their community.
Brunel Happi T.
Entrepreneur, Engineer and PhD holder in electronics. Believes in collective intelligence and collaboration for the success of projects.
Rodrigue Soh Kamla
Entrepreneur and Engineer, Founder of Artitalent and Bissogenious. Believes in African craftsmanship and invests a lot towards it.