Eng. TWIRINGIYIMANA Remy Director of Science and Technology in Education and Research Institutions Ministry of Education Kigali, RWANDA May, 2011 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”

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, Setting up a Banana Textile Technology Unit at KIST. January, In Vitro Laboratory and Greenhouse at ISAE. September, 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- 2011

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 Sub- Committee 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.Rwanda National Budget Promote and build scientific culture among stakeholders through popularization programmes: 1.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.MinEduc NIF Log Frame: Programme Objective 6: Strengthened performance in and application of science and technology. February, Technical Skills Development in Rwanda supported by SolidWorks Design Software and the t4 Curriculum of Ireland.May, 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 Develop comprehensive or holistic yet dynamic long- term investment plans in infrastructure, human capital and policy environment to promote innovations functional incentives and financial leveraging for innovation capability development: 1.National Science Technology and Innovation Policy approved 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.MinEduc NIF Log Frame: Programme Programme Objective 5: Strengthened performance in and application of science and technology. February, 2011 Evolve clear Science Communication Policy: 1.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.One Laptop per Child 2.Science Corners 3.Digital Library Training. September, 2009 Universities and research institutions must strength their capacities to contribute to the economy of their countries: 1.Mapping Science and Technology for Industrial Development: Linking Research and Development between Industries and Higher Learning Institutions for Industrial Development. July, Rwanda Knowledge Transfer partnership between Universities and Companies 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.Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy September, National ICT Strategic Plan Encourage the acquisition of foreign technology to facilitate the local innovation systems: 1.National Strategy on Climate Change and Low Carbon Development for Rwanda.February, Rwanda Climate Change Observatory project. January, 2011 Urge African countries to implement the Science with Africa conference recommendations: 1.Regional conference held 8 th and 9 th 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!