Abidjan, Ivory Coast – On March 21st, 2024, the Ivorian scientific community celebrated a major milestone as the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Adama Diawara, unveiled the results of ten groundbreaking research projects. These projects have been awarded a total of 197.120 million FCFA in funding from the Fund for Science, Technology, and Innovation (FONSTI).
Improving Lives: FONSTI Research Funding Targets Socio-Economic Progress
Expressing optimism about the potential impact of these projects, Minister Diawara stated, "I am convinced that the results presented to us today will contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic living conditions of the Ivorian populations." The event was also attended by Anne Lugon-Moulin, Swiss ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, and Faman Touré, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire.
FONSTI Research Funding: Collaboration for National Development
The Minister emphasized the need for greater synergy between the research community and the Ivorian private sector. He highlighted successful models in South-East Asian nations like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, where strong private sector involvement in research and innovation has fueled economic success. "Let's learn from these 'Success Stories' and work together to bridge the gap between research and business in our country," Minister Diawara urged.
FONSTI's Impact: Driving Growth Through Research Funding
FONSTI Secretary-General, Yaya Sangaré, shed light on the organization's impressive track record. From 2020 to 2023, FONSTI has funded 59 research projects, 14 of which have already been completed. The total funding allocated to these projects amounts to a significant 1.141 billion FCFA.
Project Highlights: FONSTI Research Funding in Action
While detailed results of the ten newly funded projects are yet to be fully released, here are some areas where this FONSTI research funding is expected to make a difference:
Agriculture and Food Security
Innovative solutions to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security are likely to be a focus area.
Health and Well-being:
Research aimed at improving healthcare, combating diseases, and promoting overall well-being is crucial for Ivory Coast.
Sustainable Development:
Projects addressing environmental challenges, climate change mitigation, and renewable energy are expected to receive support
Technology and Digital Transformation:
Research to drive technological advancements and support the digital economy could be a key focus.
The Path Forward: A Collaborative Future for Ivorian Innovation
The funding provided by FONSTI marks a significant step towards fostering a knowledge-based economy in Ivory Coast. By supporting these cutting-edge research projects, FONSTI is investing in the country's future, with a focus on solutions that address real-world challenges and drive socio-economic progress.
The call for closer collaboration between researchers and the private sector is a crucial one. Such partnerships have the potential to expedite the process of translating research findings into practical applications, creating new products, services, and industries. Ivory Coast has a unique opportunity to emulate the success stories of other nations that have made research and innovation core pillars of their development strategies.
The 10 projects concerned are:
Design and construction of a biogas chick heating system from chicken droppings.
- Development and optimization of an electrocoagulation process for the treatment of oily wastewater from the oil industry in Ivory Coast.
- Valorization of non-exported mangoes, derived products through sustainable conservation and processing.
- Valorization of waste from the cocoa sector into bioproducts with high added value.
- Development of new nutraceuticals based on edible local wild neglected fruits and vegetables against the diseases of diabetes and high blood pressure: optimization of their functionality by controlled and directed lacto-fermentation.
- Establishment of a mini-cashew nut processing plant.
- Design and optimization of a high-yield prototype of solar-pumped above-ground tilapia aquaculture for self-sufficiency in fish for populations in the northern regions of Côte d'Ivoire.
- Establishment of a system for breeding and processing edible insects adapted to agricultural conditions in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Community production of biogas from wastewater from cassava processing for the needs of 20 households.
- Research project on the organizational resilience of Ivorian companies.
