On October 6-7, 2022, a 7th NCST Council Meeting took place in Kigali, after the Councillors held the 5th and 6th Council Meetings virtually due to COVID-19 Pandemic. The theme of the 7^th Council Meeting was “Integrating STI across all sectors to stimulate Rwanda’s economic growth”. This theme was critical to guide the meeting along Rwanda’s vision to continuously improve high quality and standards of life for Rwandans.

Achieving the national development targets is imperative to address emerging national social, economic, and environmental challenges. This meeting was an opportunity to deliberate on NCST key activities, to strengthen technology application, and support research to foster industrial growth:

• Research and Innovation funding operationalized, currently funding 96 research and innovation projects, with over about Frw 4.5 billion funds committed.
• National Data Reporting to provide updated data on Rwanda at international level to support improved innovation metrics to contribute data under Global Innovation Index (GII).
• Coordination of research and Innovation efforts to enable better coordination of efforts and national funding through mutual joint planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of indicators and targets.
• Gender and Science Equality enhanced and supported through women equal opportunities availed to participate and lead scientific efforts (all research and innovation projects, at least 30% should be women scientists, incentivizing ‘women and girls in science’ annual celebrations and establishment of ‘Women in Science’ grant to enable women to be leaders of successful projects).
• Youth research empowerment through Rwanda Innovation Challenge (RIC) for 34 grantees mentored and trained at Rwanda Polytechnic and LEARP Labs. Over 50% of beneficiaries are at the level of commercialization and tangible technology breakthroughs.
• Building Research Excellence by all grantees mandated and supported (linkages with existing networks e.g.: NCST Council, Rwanda Diaspora and other renown global partners).

During the 7th Council Meeting, there were various side-line events to support integration of science, technology and innovation (STI) in national priority sectors to stimulate development.

Pre- and Post- Council Meeting Symposium

On 05^th October 2022, two Council Members Dr Segenet Kalemu and Dr Eliane Ubalijoro, and Dr Joseph Hakizimana (Rwandan Diaspora) delivered public lectures at Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) on overall theme of “Innovative Agriculture for development”. On 13^th October Prof Keun Lee and Dr Jack Ngarambe delivered public lectures at Serena Hotel Kigali (2.00-5.00 pm) on “Innovation and development: leapfrogging into tech-economic paradigm for Rwanda and other developing countries” and “Technologies in designing resilient environment” respectively.

Networking and cocktail with STI stakeholders, and awarding ceremony

On the 7^th October, 2022, at Marriot Hotel, there has been a networking and cocktail with STI national and invited global experts and awarding ceremony for Women in Science Grant (WIS) and Rwanda Innovation Challenge for Academia-Industry Collaborations (RIC-R&D) awardees. Five (5) women were awarded under WIS, whereas 10 other researchers were awarded under RIC-R&D, of which 2 were women.

Collaborations with Rwandan Diaspora scientists and and World Bank Expert

On 03-07 October 2022 five (5) Rwandan Diaspora and one World Bank Expert made field visits and assessments of national innovation system to ensure that NCST programs are leveraged through collaborations with renown global experts for better knowledge transfer mentorship and improved R&D skills.

Meeting with his Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda

A main and important activity during the 7^th NCST Council meeting was the meeting between His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda and the members of the Council of the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST). The meeting focused on ways to leverage science and technology to fast-track Rwanda's socioeconomic transformation.