Mauritius: The validation workshop of the Assises de la Recherche et de l’Innovation 2022, which is its third and final phase, is being held at Le Meridien Hotel in Pointe au Piments. The initiative is a joint endeavour of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) and the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation.
The Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, was present at the opening ceremony of the validation workshop this morning.
In his address, Minister Balgobin stressed that Les Assises de la Recherche et de l’Innovation 2022 bears testimony to the efforts of his Ministry and the MRIC in providing a platform that fosters nationwide scientific dialogue while concurrently providing insights on emerging and frontier innovations.
He commended the level of interest, involvement and discussions that one and all indulged in to develop the National Roadmap for Research and Innovation and underlined that it embodies the efforts of all parties involved towards bettering the research and innovation ecosystem of the country.
The Minister recalled that Mauritius retains the top ranking in sub-Saharan Africa and climbed seven places to 45th on the Global Innovation Index (GII), up from 82nd place in 2019 and 52nd place in both 2021 and this year while affirming that the country now targets to be in the top 20.
He attributed this accomplishment to the constant willingness and effort put in by the different Mauritian institutions operating in different sectors to innovate for ever greater efficiency.
Furthermore, Mr Balgobin pointed out that Research and Innovation will be critical to a swift economic and social recovery from the impacts of not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also of the current complex and economically-volatile international context. Innovation, he added, can only flourish in a conducive environment, where interaction and exchange of ideas are welcome and where brainstorming and breakdown of information take place.
He assured that the Government is creating the right ecosystem for people to generate ideas and establish structures that will nurture them and help them to grow. The ideas will then turn into enterprises generating economic and social value, employment, growth and the related spin-offs, he said.
As for the Executive Director of the MRIC, Professor Theesan Bahorun, he underscored the resolve of the MRIC through this initiative to promote the agenda of innovation and expressed conviction that with careful thought and reflection, the National Roadmap for Research and Innovation will help ensure the uplifting of citizens in the Republic of Mauritius. He further highlighted the input and collaboration of all working group members, key stakeholders both in Mauritius and Rodrigues and all the participants.
He stated that while the National Roadmap for Research and Innovation will serve as a starting point, success will require testing, learning and refining throughout. As such, he emphasised, the National roadmap will be adjusted at regular intervals, and that consultations that have shaped the strategic orientation need to become an ongoing process.
Les Assises de la Recherche et de l’Innovation 2022. The first phase was held in April 2022 in Mauritius, and the second phase was held in July 2022 in Rodrigues. The last phase of this initiative is the validation workshop, whereby the full report and its recommendations, along with the MRIC’s strategic plan, will be validated.
Les Assises de la Recherche et de l’Innovation 2022 focused on six priority areas, namely, health and wellness innovation; financial innovation; travel and tourism and entertainment innovation; blue and green innovation; social and grassroots innovation; and IT, emerging and enabling innovation.
