SCEFAB

Strengthening Circular Economy for Agribusiness (SCEFAB) – Promoting Employment by Entrepreneurship Education

In the Strengthening Circular Economy for Agribusiness (SCEFAB) project between the University Gaston Berger, Senegal (UGB), Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (BDU), and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU), an innovative, practice-oriented and interdisciplinary module called “Founders Lab” is being developed and implemented. As part of the proposed module, students will receive training and support in developing customized and sustainable business models related to the circular economy, especially in the field of agribusiness.

Project duration: 2024 - 2027

Project sponsor: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)

Project Description

The project aims to strengthen the labor market in Ethiopia and Senegal and reduce the brain drain from the Global South to the Global North. This is done by integrating practical modules in the context of entrepreneurship that aim to develop circular solutions, especially in the agricultural sector.

To this end, a cross-faculty study module called “Founders Lab” is being developed at the partner universities BDU and UGB. Within this framework, annual Founders Lab pitch events are organized between German, Senegalese and Ethiopian students. The students will primarily work on ideas and business models for a sustainable circular economy. They will be supervised by the university and industry partners.

In addition, study-related, labor market-relevant offers will be implemented at the African partner universities UGB and BDU through the further development of the existing incubation centers “UGB Incubateur” and “Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation Centre (EDIC)”.

Overview of Project Results

Founders Lab
The practice-oriented Founders Lab module is adapted to the needs of BDU and UGB and integrated into their curricula.
Training of Trainers
Teaching and administrative staff at BDU and UGB are trained in start-up support, entrepreneurship, circular economy and renewable energies.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure for permanently anchoring the Founders Lab and the annual pitch events will be created at the UGB and BDU incubation centers.
Partnership
The partnerships between HNU, BDU and UGB as well as with corporate partners will be strengthened and further expanded.

Project Partners

Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Senegal

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Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

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nOa climate GmbH (nOa),Berlin, Germany

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KTI Plersch Kältetechnik GmbH, Balzheim, Germany

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Wogelesa Integrated Fish, Vegetable and Fruit Farm, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

funded by the DAAD with financial means of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

News

HNU students develop sustainable business ideas in Senegal

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30 international participants in FOUNDERS LAB 2025 - practical, creative and circular: As part of the SCEFAB project, ten students from HNU joined ten students each from UGB in Senegal and BDU in Ethiopia at UGB in Saint-Louis for five intensive workshop days in mid-October 2025. The aim was to develop innovative and marketable business ideas relating to the circular economy in agriculture.

Student excursion to Senegal

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Students of Business Administration, WPS, WIN, ESD and MAM were able to apply for the excursion to the Université Gaston Berger in Saint Louis, Senegal, from October 6 to 10, 2025.