Research Grants available from
the MRC
Mauritius Research Council
18th July 2007
Layout of the presentation
 Introduction to the Council and its activities
 An overview of the MRC research grant
schemes
1. Introduction to the Council
Vision
 To be the driving force behind research for
national development
Mission
 Promoting and pioneering research for
sustainable development to enhance the quality
of life of the people of Mauritius
Objectives (MRC Act, 1992)
 Foster, promote and coordinate research and
development in all spheres of scientific,
technological, social and economic activities.
 Advise the Government on all matters
concerning scientific and technological policies.
 Lay guidelines for, and initiate the formulation
of research and development policies on a
national basis.
 Encourage commercial utilisation of research
and development results in the national interest.
Research Priority Areas
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Ocean Technology and Marine Resources
Waste Management and Recycling
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Biomedical and Biotechnology
Science and Technology Education
2. MRC Research Grant Schemes
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Unsolicited Research Grant Scheme (1993)
Solicited Research Grant Scheme (1998)
Private Sector Collaborative R.G.S (1999)
Small Scale Research Grant Scheme (2000)
Public Sector Collaborative R.G.S (March
2005)
MRC Postgraduate Award (September
2005)
Unsolicited R.G.S
 Bottom-up approach
 Individuals/team submit through their provider
institution
 Administrative screening
 Peer review [intellectual merit, relevance to
national priority, manageability, potential for
application & capacity building]
 Project Management Committee
Solicited R.G.S
 Top Down
 MRC defines research topic
 Institutions, researchers bid to conduct the
research project
 OR MRC conducts the research in-house
Private Sector Collaborative R.G.S
 Take research beyond the walls of academia
 Joint Private sector & academia submission
 3 Phases –feasibility, refinement,
commercial application
 PI: scientific, technical & commercial merit
 PII: concept refinement & continue research
effort
 PIII: pursue commercial application
Public Sector Collaborative R.G.S
 Initiative jointly funded by the MoCS & MRC
 Aimed at researchers and research institutions in the
public sector
 promotion of research to improve efficiency and
effectiveness in the public sector
 Multidisciplinary, inter-institutional or interdepartmental
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Flexitime
Performance & Quality Management
Leadership & Motivation
Human Resource Management
MRC Postgraduate Award
 Aimed at encouraging individuals already in
employment to undertake part-time
research, leading to the award of MPhil or
PhD
 Awards will focus on project proposals
falling within the priority research themes
Small Scale R.G.S
 Graduates, teachers, medical staff, NGOs,
personnel of public sector…etc
 Submission submitted with a recognised
institutions e.g UoM.
 Booklet on small scale research
Allocation of Funds by Schemes
PGA
<1%
PuSCRGS PSCRGS
<1%
7%
SRGS
31%
URGS
61%
SSRGS
1%
Fig 1: Allocation of Funds By Schem e
Distribution of Funds
Others
5%
Water Resources
4%
Biom edical
12%
Biotechnology
5%
Energy & Energy
Efficiency
4%
Inform ation and
Com m unication
Technology
2%
Manufacturing
Technology
9%
Social/Econom ic
28%
Science &
Technology Education
9%
Marine Resources
12%
Land and Land Use
10%
Fig 2: Allocation of funds according by theme
Our Research Partners
35%
03/04
04/05
05/06
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
NGO's
Public Sector
Inhouse
Private Sector
Fig 3: Research Partnership
Academia
Initiatives of the Council
Steering committee on biomedical research
Awareness workshop on traditional medicine
Booklet on type II diabetes in Mauritius
Guidelines on research ethics and conduct of
research
 Code of care and responsibility in the use of
animals in research
 Ethical guidelines for biomedical research
involving human subjects
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www.mrc.org.mu
mrc@intnet.mu