Overview of MRC Vision “Shaping up the Mauritius of tomorrow through research, technology and innovation” Mission " Promoting and pioneering research for sustainable development to enhance the quality of life of the people of Mauritius "
Objectives (MRC (Amendment) Bill 2014) Foster, promote and coordinate research and development, and innovation, inline with the economic, technological and social needs of Mauritius Encourage commercial utilisation of research and development, and innovation, results in the national interest Foster the development of a research culture Promote science and technology Enhance private sector participation in research and development and innovation
Coordinated R & D Initiatives Research Funding Science & Technology Science & Social Research Agency Adviser to Government Technology (CASR) • Research Grant 20+ Applied Projects • Social Attitude Survey Recent Activities Schemes • Summer Time • Geothermal power • LBOI Technical • E-waste Management • Work & the Family • Innovation & Advisor • Seaweed Industry (6 Projects) • Discrimination at the Commercialization • Innovation Committee Work Place • Coconut Industry (2) Schemes • Science , Technology & • Street Children in • Natural Fibre Develop (2). • Capacity Building/ Innovation Policy Mauritius • Science Park • KABP survey on Award Schemes • Science Education • Toxic plants Substance Abuse • Water Quality • Research Support • Water Quality • KABP survey on anti- • Neurological rehabilitation Schemes corruption values in • Pedestrian Wind • Mauritian Innovation and IP Secondary Schools Safety – High Rise Framework • Crime and Violence Buildings • Wind on High-Rise Buildings • Domestic Violence (About 500 Projects ) Commercialisation of R&D Output
Innovation & Research Grant Capacity Building/ Research Support Commercialization Schemes Award Schemes Schemes Schemes
Current Priorities of the Council Ocean Economy Sustainable Resource Management Human Resources Life Sciences Information and Communication Technologies Socio-Economic Issues and Emerging Sectors
GDP/capita (USD) Tourism/ Textile Agriculture Financial / ICT 8000 7000 7% 29% 6000 GDP/capita (US$) 12% 64% 5000 32% 4000 56% 12% 3000 4% 27% 2000 26% 62% 69% 1000 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year Source: Central Statistical Office, World Development Indicators
Natural Science Ocean Energy Agronomy/ Related Plant Science Rodrigues Social Science
Blue Government’s vision is to make of the Republic of Mauritius, within the next ten years, a nation fully conscious of its immense potential as an Ocean State. Maritime territory (EEZ) – 2.3 million km 2 1000 x land space of RoM 4 x size of France 3.5 x size of Madagasgar 30 x size of Ireland RoM is a big OCEAN STATE Net Size of RoM = 1/3 size of Europe “ We’ve barely scratched the surface of that Ocean”
Healthcare Desalinated Renewable Aquaculture Products Mineral Water Energy Salmon, Trout, Oysters Seaweed Culture Pharmaceutics Deep Ocean Water Applications Pearl Culture Aquaponics Environment Friendly ORGANIC Thalassotherapy Science & Technology Driven Inland Tourism Jobs & Wealth Rev: Rs 5 billion yearly (Foreign Currency) Democratisation Cosmetics High Purity of Economy Marine Salt
A Land Based Oceanic Industry Thalassotherapy Oceanarium SPA Deep Sea Bottled Mineral Water High Value Fish High Value High (Salmon, Seaweeds, Oysters Quality Lobster) & Pearls Desalination Salt Plant Air Conditioning Hotels/Buildings AQUACULTURE 20 o C Cooling Station Pump 25 o C 13 o C 6 o C Increase Increase Remove 1000M Temp Temp Nutrients Low Temperature Rich on Nutrients Rich in Minerals Medicinal Properties Pharmaceutical + therapeutic Properties
The Energy Landscape in Mauritius
Electricity Consumption 2000 – 2010- 2025 GWh 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 CIA World Factbook, 2011
Electricity Generation 2012 2% 2% 2% 1% 6% 1% 4% 8% 4% 3% 16% 5% 3% 4% Coal Coal Coal 2% 13% Fuel Oil Fuel Oil Fuel Oil Coal 40% Bagasse 43% 14% Bagasse 44% Bagasse 45% Fuel Oil Hydro 2015 2020 2025 2010 Hydro Hydro Bagasse Waste to energy Waste to energy Waste to energy Hydro Wind 17% Wind Wind Solar PV Solar PV Solar PV Geothermal 37% 31% 28% 25% Long-Term Energy Strategy 2009-2025, Ministry of Renewable Energy & Public Utilities, October 2009
Electricity Generation – feasibility Transportation -implementation on study and implementation a pilot basis
Offshore Wind Turbines www.siemens.com
RoM has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.3 million Km 2 . The ocean offers immense potential for generating electricity, especially for a small island state like Mauritius. Our country’s primary energy consumption in 2010 was approximately 2700GWh, 80% of which came from fossil fuels. Wind energy is recognised worldwide as a proven technology to meet increasing electricity demands in a sustainable and clean way.
CETO www.carnegiewave.com
TIDAL ENERGY
SeaGen Turbine www.siemens.co.uk
OpenHydro Turbine www.euinfrastructure.com
Salinity Gradient Power www.ocean7.at
Local Seaweeds of commercial potential Ulva lactuca Padina spp. Sargassum binderi Sargassum Hypnea Gracilaria salicornia aquifolium cornuta
Aim of the project: The main goal is to convert pineapple leaves and banana trunks - no value waste products -into highly priced eco fabrics Banana fibre 45 mm clippings Mix 80% wool + 20% BF Slubbing Yarn Knitted material
High quality of fibres obtained from pineapple leaves and banana trunks www.dharmatrading.com www.dbathis.com
Experimental Wheat Cultivation in Mauritius
Land Preparation and Furrowing Seeding
Cosmetics Raw materials Medicinal applications Potential applications of toxic plants Insecticide/ Weedicide Antifouling agents Biofuel Agriculture
Research on Plants
MORINGA OLEIFERA , the miracle tree
Social Sciences Mauritius Research Council
Cabinet took note on the 16 th of August 2013 that Government will be setting up an IIT like research academy in Mauritius in close collaboration with the IIT Delhi. It would be operated under the aegis of the Mauritius Research Council in close collaboration with the IIT Delhi. It aims at promoting scientific excellence and fostering Scientific Development in Mauritius, through state of the art Scientific and Technical Research to generate new cutting-edge knowledge. It envisages being a world class research platform attracting the best students from Mauritius, Africa and Asia in the field of scientific research. The IITRA was launched on the 23 rd of July 2014.
Goals of the IITRA Provide a world class research based educational platform for full time and part time post graduate research leading to MS(R) and PhD degree awards. Attract foreign researchers to Mauritius, including Scientific Experts from the Mauritian Diaspora. Attract foreign students to Mauritius
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa signed in February 1998 The MoU covered four (4) broad areas of co- operation: Joint Research Projects Technology Transfer Sharing of Intellectual Property Commercial Business Opportunities
A Video Conference was organized with the CSIR by the MRC in collaboration with the University of Mauritius on 29 th April 2009 at the UoM under the context of Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. The SANBio Network Director (Professor Luke Mumba) visited stakeholders in Mauritius from 19-21 May 2008 to discuss with them areas for collaboration on SANBio initiatives. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Republic of South Africa visited the MRC from 15 th to 17 th October 2008. The objective of the visit was to explore potential areas related to opportunities for cooperation in the cross-cutting field of Science and Technology, including ICT and Space Science. The 12-Member Delegation was led by the Director General of the DST, Dr Phil MJWARA .
1. Square Kilometer Array (DST) 2. The establishment of a Bioinformatics Regional Node at the University of Mauritius within the framework of the SANBio of NEPAD 3. Capacity Building on Intellectual Property Rights (DST, SARIMA, NIPMO)
Aim To create a National Centre for HPC enabling cutting edge research with high impact on the Mauritian Economy. Objectives 1. To facilitate high-end research and foster innovation 2. To provide processing time to research institutions, academic institutions and private sector 3. To facilitate human capital development through high-level training 4. To strengthen collaboration among researchers and promote Private- Public Partnership
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