The Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Teams (SMART) Program is a unique service learning program that brings together multi-disciplinary teams of both graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff from across the university to address real-life challenges identified by small businesses, NGOs, community groups, and public institutions working within emerging markets.

Learn more and apply to one of the 7 exciting projects we are supporting this year. 

Baker to FoodTech Startup Mogul, Rwanda

Regis Umugiraneza credits the CARL Group's ability to weather various business development challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic to his strong entrepreneurial spirit. Having recently acquired a new business facility equipped with numerous food processing and production equipment, assistance is needed in conducting a feasibility study that will inform of the envisioned incubation center for young and upcoming entrepreneurs within the food and beverage industry in Kigali. (Learn more about this opportunity)

Growing Small-Scale Farmer Share of the South African Beef Sector, South Africa

South Africa is the leading beef producer in Africa, producing a fifth (21%) of the meat in continent. However, most of the meat produced and sold is done by predominately white commercial farmers. A multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the African Centre for Food Security (UKZN) and SMART (Cornell) are to support development of a baseline study that will inform the development of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) Theory of Change (TOC) and logic model aimed at promoting black smallholder farmer participation. (Learn more about this opportunity)

Healthy People, Planet and Profits, Senegal

Increased use of fertilizers contributes to the growth of invasive submerged aquatic vegetation, which obstructs water access points and provides a habitat for Schistosoma (world’s second most common parasitic disease caused by snail-transmitted flatworms). This project seeks to develop a viable business model that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can use to transform the public nuisance of submerged aquatic vegetation into valuable private goods, such as compost and livestock feed. (Learn more about this opportunity)

Jobs not Charity, Rwanda

ROBEEC is a newly founded social enterprise that has gained international recognition for its sustainable production model. Following requests by the Rwanda and Belgium government to inform a market -led apiculture development approach for cooperatives, the company needs assistance in developing an impact evaluation tool/s that will allow them to assess the social, economic and environmental impact of their model and inform policy. (Learn more about this opportunity)

The Future of SMEs: A Global South Dialogue, USA

With the goal of hosting a global dialogue in Indonesia in 2025, a major effort is needed to organize the participation of SMEs. SMART fellows will be tasked with researching and writing a report—based on Zoom interviews with selected SMEs, meetings with experts working in multilateral organizations, and a workshop to be held in Washington DC to identify best practices in enabling SME environments, strategies and innovations that promote resilient enterprises. (Learn more about this opportunity)

The Rise, fall and Resurrection of the Dew Drop Inn, USA

Once known as the South’s “swankiest spot,” the Dew Drop Inn is one of the most culturally significant venues in the United States that served as an incubator for rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s and 60s. Despite its representation of the entrepreneurial spirit of Black business owners during the Jim Crow segregation era, little is known about this culturally and historically significant site. SMART aims to assist by conducting extensive research to develop various marketing and mixed media assets that will support various publications as well as a documentary film. (Learn more)

Zenkgo - Just the right amount, China

Inspired by Zen philosophy and the best practices in food and nutritional sciences, Zenkgo integrates Eastern philosophical balance with Western scientific rigor adheres to using natural and high-quality ingredients, guided by the principle of "just the right amount," meticulously providing the nutrients consumers truly need. Following the brands success in the USA market, Zenkgo is looking to expand into the Chinese market and needs assistance in conducting market research which will inform its market entry and product development strategy. (Learn more about this opportunity)