MIT D-Lab

Higher EducationMassachusetts, United States11-50 Employees

MIT D-Lab is a program within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that aims to connect a worldwide community of creators to develop and spread technologies that improve the lives of people living in poverty. The work is carried out through cross-disciplinary courses, hands-on technology development, and community-driven initiatives, with a focus on experiential learning, real-world projects, scalability, and local leadership. Founded in 2002 by Amy Smith, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering and a MacArthur Fellow, D-Lab has produced many MIT courses and a range of devices and processes, including water testing and treatment systems, human-powered agricultural processing equipment, medical and assistive devices for global health, and cleaner-burning fuels derived from agricultural waste. 

Beyond academics, D-Lab runs programs such as the Scale-Ups Fellowship, the MIT Practical Impact Alliance, and the International Development Innovation Network, along with the annual Scaling Development Ventures conference. Its research portfolio includes groups focused on biomass fuel and cookstoves, off-grid energy, mobile health technology, local innovation, and lean research, illustrating a commitment to field-ready development solutions. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the unit operates within MIT and collaborates with communities and partners worldwide to advance practical technologies for development.

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