Implementation of the recommendations of the
First Meeting of the Committee on Development
Information, Science and Technology (CODIST I) to
the Member States
Science and Technology Sub-committee
“Scientific Development Innovation and the Knowledge
Economy”
Eng. TWIRINGIYIMANA Remy
Director of Science and Technology
in Education and Research Institutions
Ministry of Education
Kigali, RWANDA
May, 2011
Recommendations to Member States
 Invest in more high-quality human capital encompassing new ethical approaches and
attitudes, through increased expenditure on education and R&D and introduce
incentives to attract private-sector investment in science education and R&D
activities:
1. Carnegie Mellon University Rwanda-Campus:


Regional ICT Centre of Excellence. Nov, 2011
Strategically choose more STI programs with impact, especially those with focus on
important areas such as agriculture, health and socio-economic issues;
1. Enhancing capacity building in Sericulture Research Program. January,
2011
2. Setting up a Banana Textile Technology Unit at KIST. January, 2011
3. In Vitro Laboratory and Greenhouse at ISAE. September, 2010
4. Promoting biomedical research in institutions that train medical personnel
in the country
Promote an enabling environment for the development of a science and
technology information system in Africa that can enhance private
partnerships and accelerate economic growth.
1.
Project to design and implement a National STI Rwanda Innovation
Endowment Fund in partnership with the ONE UN to be launched in Mid-
General Recommendations on the sub-theme
‘Innovation and economic growth’
Establish appropriate infrastructures such as
technology transfer offices, incubators, or
science parks in universities and public
research organizations (PROs) to link
industries to research institutions:
1. Rwanda Technopole being established on the newly
created Rwanda Industrial Zone
Specific recommendations made during the
sessions of the Science and Technology SubCommittee
 Implement the Lagos Plan of Action, African Union Heads of State
Summits, and Science with Africa Conference recommendation of
setting at least 1 percent of their countries’ GDP for Research and
Development:
1.

Promote and build scientific culture among stakeholders through
popularization programmes:
1.

Rwanda National Budget. 2010-2011
MinEduc NIF Log Frame: Programme Objective 6: Strengthened performance
in and application of science and technology. February, 2011
Strengthen education system to increase human resource capacity
in S&T
1.
2.
3.
MinEduc NIF Log Frame: Programme Objective 6: Strengthened performance
in and application of science and technology. February, 2011
Technical Skills Development in Rwanda supported by SolidWorks Design
Software and the t4 Curriculum of Ireland.May, 2010
AfDB Supported Support to Skills Development in Science and Technology.
Approved Nov 2008
Recommendations on Enabling Environment –
Technical and Policy Issues
 Develop protocols to bring innovators, entrepreneurs and venture capital
together to commercialize innovations that would benefit the continent:
1.

Business Plan for Life Science Convergence Centre developed and Virtual
Centre being established 2011
Make effort to strengthen education system to increase strong human
capacity in science and technology by involving industry and research
institutions in development of universities curricula to ensure that
graduates of tertiary institutions are relevant to industry imperatives, so
that foreign investors should be able to recognize and use the
universities, researchers and other expertise in Africa for their operation:
1.
Mapping Science and Technology for Industrial Development:
Linking Research and Development between Industries and
Higher Learning Institutions for Industrial Development. July,
2009
Recommendations on Enabling Environment –
Technical and Policy Issues -Cont’d
 Establish forums for the sharing and exchange of
innovative experiences and solutions:
1.
Rwanda Knowledge Transfer partnership between Universities
and Companies. 2010
 Develop comprehensive or holistic yet dynamic longterm investment plans in infrastructure, human
capital and policy environment to promote
innovations functional incentives and financial
leveraging for innovation capability development:
1.
2.
National Science Technology and Innovation Policy approved
2006
Bill for a Science Technology and Innovation Law, including
establishment of national Council in STI being drafted
Recommendations on Enabling Environment –
Technical and Policy Issues -Cont’d
Build networks of research institutions and
researches in Africa and prepare a concept
note concerning different kinds of research
and improve their interactions for
development:
1. Rwanda Education and Research Network
(RwEdNet).November, 2010
 Increase scientific publications in Africa:
1. KIST Science and Technology Journal
2. NUR Journal
Recommendations on Enabling Environment –
Technical and Policy Issues -Cont’d
 Increase participation of women in science in Africa:
1.

Evolve clear Science Communication Policy:
1.

MinEduc NIF Log Frame: Programme Programme Objective 5:
Strengthened performance in and application of science and
technology. February, 2011
National Science Technology and Innovation Policy approved 2006
Develop and take advantage of vast indigenous technologies and
innovations:
1.
Intellectual Property Law. Approved July, 2010
 Use human and social science to contribute to the development of
STI:
1.
AfDB Supported Support to Skills Development in Science and
Technology. Approved Nov 2008
Recommendations on Science Technology and
Economic growth
 Support S&T by providing the necessary resources,
especially through politicians:
1.
2.
3.
One Laptop per Child
Science Corners
Digital Library Training. September, 2009
 Universities and research institutions must strength their
capacities to contribute to the economy of their countries:
1.
2.
3.
Mapping Science and Technology for Industrial Development: Linking
Research and Development between Industries and Higher Learning
Institutions for Industrial Development. July, 2009
Rwanda Knowledge Transfer partnership between Universities and
Companies. 2010.
International Workshop on Lake Kivu Monitoring and Development
of its Resources
Recommendations on Science Technology and
Economic growth- Cont’d
 Use print and electronic media (Radio, TV, etc.) to
promote education in S&T in order to develop new and
emerging innovative groups:
1.
ICT In Education Policy. October, 2010
 Strengthen the basic science in education and the
fundamental research for strong development of
innovation and economic growth:
1.
Rwanda Life Science Convergence Centre. August, 2008
 Promote the collaboration between research and
innovation institutions with those of emerging
countries like Brazil:
1.
Partnership agreements signed with South Africa 2010 and
Zambia 2011
Recommendations on Science Technology and
Economic growth- Cont’d
 Re-enforce the importance of S&T in the African Government
structure:
1.
2.

Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 20082013.September, 2007
National ICT Strategic Plan 2011-2015
Encourage the acquisition of foreign technology to facilitate the
local innovation systems:
1.
2.
National Strategy on Climate Change and Low Carbon Development for
Rwanda.February, 2011
Rwanda Climate Change Observatory project. January, 2011
 Urge African countries to implement the Science with Africa
conference recommendations:
1.
Regional conference held 8th and 9th December entitled “Regional
Integration Human Resources Development in S&T Fields” in partnership
with AAAS including countries of EAC and Great Lakes Economic
Community
MANY THANKS
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!