UTT & CARIRI Sign Innovative Memorandum of Understanding
September 21st, 2022 | Related To: Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI)
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing both parties to collaborate on a project plant dedicated to the recycling of waste tyres in Trinidad and Tobago.
This country accumulates over 1.5 million waste tyres annually, which has an economic and environmental impact on our quality of life. As a result, the project aims to utilise research which facilitates the use of discarded tyres to create products which supplies the downstream rubber-based industry.
The plant is currently being built at UTT San Fernando Campus and will run for the next two years, in the first instance. The University and CARIRI will pool resources related to manpower and research capabilities, in attempts to create products which will increase the availability of specific rubber-based products locally and internationally, increase employment, and be commercially viable.
Professor Prakash Persad, President, UTT mentioned that undertaking activities such as these will expose students to a myriad of engineering-based opportunities, and are an extension of the University’s core academic functions, which include pioneering groundbreaking research. He stated the University is dedicated to this task, while making reference to its business incubator, uSTART which “spawns business for more research; to do work that is of value to industry”, showing the complementary nature of the pilot project which is underway.
Mr. Hans-Erich Schulz, Chief Executive Officer, CARIRI stated that working with UTT presented a unique opportunity, adding that CARIRI looks forward to “experiencing the real-world application of a potential product”, the likes of which have not been experienced locally.
At the end of the event, both organisations pledged their commitment to this project, not only to make a foray into locally unchartered territory, but to drive national development to the benefit of us all.
