University of Lomé students tackle business challenges through digital innovation

Training

Wednesday, 11 March 2026 07:22

University of Lomé students tackle business challenges through digital innovation

(Togo First) - Around 300 students at the University of Lomé (UL) in Togo began work on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, to develop digital solutions addressing challenges faced by local businesses. The initiative is part of the fourth edition of Crunch Time for Technological Innovation, organized by the École Polytechnique de Lomé (EPL) and running until March 14.

Working in multidisciplinary teams made up of students from different schools and faculties across the university, participants are analyzing real business problems proposed by partner companies. Within a short timeframe, they must design and present practical and innovative solutions.

The projects focus mainly on the digitalization of services and improvements to everyday practices. Among the challenges identified are the digitalization of the student bus ticket system and the development of tools to facilitate remote room searches.

Inspired by the model developed by the Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), the initiative aims to strengthen links between universities and industry while giving students the opportunity to work on concrete problems.

According to the organizers, Crunch Time Innovation offers an intensive learning environment that places students in conditions similar to those of the professional world, encouraging innovation, collaboration and creativity.

For Komlan Batawila, first vice-president of the University of Lomé, this new edition is expected to serve as a real testing ground for ideas and innovation, reflecting the university’s commitment to training engineers and specialists capable of addressing contemporary technological and societal challenges.

Professor Kondo Hloindo Adjallah, director of École Polytechnique de Lomé, for his part encouraged students to fully use their creativity and technical skills to propose solutions adapted to the problems presented by partner companies.

Esaïe Edoh

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REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.