LAUNCH OF GRAND CHALLENGES RWANDA

On May 18th and 19th, 2023, a significant milestone was achieved by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) in collaboration with national and global stakeholders. This momentous occasion witnessed the launch of Grand Challenges (GC) Rwanda.

The event took place at Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) under the theme “Supporting research and development (R&D) through cooperation to promote excellence and scale of evidence-based innovations” and brought together key stakeholders from national, regional, and global levels. Renowned keynote speakers, policymakers, development partners, academia, researchers, and industry representatives attended the event, creating a platform for networking, idea sharing, and establishing partnerships.

The launch event included various activities such as the official launch of Grand Challenges Rwanda, keynote speeches, panel discussions, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCST and the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA), the publication of a Request for Proposal (RFP), and an exhibition showcasing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) projects.

Opening Remarks

Dr. Eugene Mutimura, the Executive Secretary of NCST, delivered the opening remarks, expressing gratitude to all participants and acknowledging the committed partners and stakeholders involved in the preparations. The CEO of SFA and a delegate from the African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) also delivered speeches, highlighting the significance of the event and recognizing Rwanda's achievements in the science and technology sector.

The CEO of SFA, Dr. Thomas Kariuki, said: "As African stakeholders we need to speak in one voice, it ensures that our priorities are defined at home & not driven from outside. This helps us secure funding support for the near future until local economies can put more investment in R&D”.

The delegate from AUDA-NEPAD, Prof. Aggrey Ambali, said: “Effective policy formulation by government is critical in supporting revolutionary science innovations. Creating enabling environments for African led science will encourage investment, collaboration & knowledge sharing towards sustainable development".

Honorable Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, the Minister of Education of the Republic of Malawi, attended the launch to learn from Rwanda's experiences as Malawi prepared to launch GC Malawi in October 2033. Minister Wirima congratulated Rwanda on the successful event and its remarkable achievements.

In her remarks, Dr. Uwamariya, The Rwanda Minister of Education emphasized the commitment of the Government of Rwanda to supporting research and innovation that address key development challenges affecting our nation.  She stressed that there are definitely several emerging challenges affecting the Rwandan and African people that research should address.

“In Rwanda, we have witnessed the catastrophic effects of land and mud slides that resulted in deaths of our people, and loss of property. These are effects of climate change, and lack of resilient environment. Other key priorities in Rwanda and Africa include food security and modern agriculture as well as health and life sciences. We have all witnessed the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 pandemic. These development challenges are cross-cutting in Africa, and globally. However, these challenges affect regions differently, and we believe Africa need better contextualized innovative solutions to meet the needs of our people”.

Keynote Speeches and Panel Discussions

The launch event featured four keynote speeches and corresponding panel discussions, focusing on key areas of interest. Topics included global grand challenges achievements and prospects, the role of research and development (R&D) and innovation in economic growth, prioritizing research in vaccine and pharmaceutical products and services, and the achievements, challenges, and prospects of research and innovation development in Africa.

These speeches and panel discussions provided a platform for thought-provoking discussions, knowledge sharing, and exploration of future directions in research and innovation for Africa, with a particular emphasis on Rwanda's role and contributions.

MoU Signing

On the same day, the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCST and SFA took place. The aim of this MOU is to set up and operate a partnership between NCST and SFA modeled after the Grand Challenges Explorations (“GCE”),  involving launching calls dedicated to Rwandan and African Investigators and to implement research that leads to innovation in Rwanda. It has been noted that the necessity for mutual cooperation for the development of the African research ecosystem through funding excellent research and innovation ideas; enabling interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers and building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge is very crucial.

Exhibition during the Launch

The launch of GC Rwanda featured an exhibition showcasing projects from various institutions, including UR-ACE-DS, RBC, ICIPE, IUCEA, and three projects funded by NCST Rwanda. The exhibition provided an opportunity for participants to engage with innovative research and projects, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration. Discussions between Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona from IUCEA and Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, the Rwandan Minister of Education, focused on leveraging opportunities for research and innovation collaboration to support economic growth in the East African Community (EAC) region.

Conclusion

The establishment of Grand Challenges Rwanda is envisioned as a sustainable program to enhance the national excellence of research and development (R&D) and innovation. The program aims to attract a diverse range of partners from the research and academia sectors, as well as philanthropists supporting R&D and innovation. Collaboration with Rwandan Diaspora scientists, renowned global scientists, and influential figures will further contribute to improving R&D excellence within Rwanda. This enhanced excellence, resulting from expanded collaborations with various partners, will position Rwanda as a hub for innovation and economic growth, not just within Africa but also on a global scale.