The Role of Science and Technology for Rwanda’s Economic Growth Prof. Romain MURENZI Minister in President’s Office in Charge of Science, Technology and.

The Role of Science and Technology The Role of Science and Technology for Rwanda’s Economic Growthfor Rwanda’s Economic Growth

Prof. Romain MURENZIProf. Romain MURENZIMinister in President’s Office in Charge ofMinister in President’s Office in Charge ofScience, Technology and Scientific ResearchScience, Technology and Scientific ResearchKigali, RWANDAKigali, RWANDANovember, 2006November, 2006

SIXTH ANNUAL GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA AND SIXTH ANNUAL GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS MEETING (DPM)DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS MEETING (DPM)

Kigali, November 22Kigali, November 22ndnd – 23 – 23rdrd 2006 2006

Role of Science & Technology for Rwanda's Economic GrowthRole of Science & Technology for Rwanda's Economic Growth

The Role of Science and Technology for Rwanda’s The Role of Science and Technology for Rwanda’s Economic GrowthEconomic Growth

1.1. Introduction and Commitment of LeadershipIntroduction and Commitment of Leadership

2.2. National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Objectives and Policy AreasObjectives and Policy Areas

• STI for Poverty Reduction and Meeting MDGsSTI for Poverty Reduction and Meeting MDGs• STI for Economic Diversification and Income STI for Economic Diversification and Income

GenerationGeneration

3.3. Partnerships in Building STI CapacityPartnerships in Building STI Capacity• MultilateralMultilateral• BilateralBilateral• CorporateCorporate• Example of ICT in ActionExample of ICT in Action

4.4. ConclusionConclusion

OverviewOverview


Rwanda’s path to developing science, technology, Rwanda’s path to developing science, technology, research, and innovation for her development.research, and innovation for her development.

Clear commitment of the leadership,Clear commitment of the leadership, Policy of science and technology and a strategic plan Policy of science and technology and a strategic plan

indicating national resources and support from indicating national resources and support from partnerships, partnerships,

Collaboration with Development PartnersCollaboration with Development Partners Establishment of law on science and technology, Establishment of law on science and technology, Establishment of funding mechanism for STR,Establishment of funding mechanism for STR, Promote R&D in private sector through tax incentives, Promote R&D in private sector through tax incentives, Promote partnership between Academia-Industry-Promote partnership between Academia-Industry-

Government, Government, International co-operation in technology transfer.International co-operation in technology transfer.

11 IntroductionIntroduction

•Robert Solow, 1957:–Economic Growth USA 1909 – 1949: 87.5% of output attributed to the applications of science and technology, while capital alone without technology attributes a mere 12.5%.

•Mariko: –“Compounded over generations, a 1 or 2 percent reduction in the overall [economic] growth rate could be the difference between the standard of living merely doubling or surging five-fold over a hundred-year period.”

•Sunil Mani:–“Technology is central to many of the changes now taking place in the manufacturing and service sectors of countries across the world.”

Financing STI for Economic Growth


His Excellency Paul KagameHis Excellency Paul KagameSeptember 18 2006 to the UK Royal Society, September 18 2006 to the UK Royal Society, Science AcademyScience Academy

““We in Africa must either begin to build We in Africa must either begin to build up our scientific and technological up our scientific and technological training capabilities or remain an training capabilities or remain an impoverished appendage to the global impoverished appendage to the global economy”economy”

January 30 2004 to Diplomatic CorpsJanuary 30 2004 to Diplomatic Corps ““We will continue to invest in our people We will continue to invest in our people

and we will strive to open up the and we will strive to open up the frontiers of science, technology and frontiers of science, technology and research as we broaden our trade links research as we broaden our trade links with our neighbouring countries and with our neighbouring countries and beyond”beyond”

Development in Science and Development in Science and TechnologyTechnology


22 National Science, Technology National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – July 2005and Innovation Policy – July 2005

Knowledge Acquisition – Knowledge Acquisition – to reinforce Science and to reinforce Science and Technology teaching and resources at all levels of Technology teaching and resources at all levels of educationeducation

Knowledge CreationKnowledge Creation – Develop Research – Develop Research Capability in all priority sectors of the economyCapability in all priority sectors of the economy

Knowledge TransferKnowledge Transfer – To reinforce Science and – To reinforce Science and Technology Capability in all priority sectors of the Technology Capability in all priority sectors of the economyeconomy

Innovation CultureInnovation Culture – To encourage Innovation at – To encourage Innovation at all levels to help stimulate economic growthall levels to help stimulate economic growth

Specific Policy Objectives


Sector Science and Technology Policy AreasSector Science and Technology Policy Areas

Science & Technology Policy in: Education Agriculture & Animal Husbandry, Biotechnology, Health, Environment, Water and Sanitation, Transport, Energy, ICT, Geo-Information, Tourism, Industry, the Private Sector.


STI Capacity for Poverty Reduction and STI Capacity for Poverty Reduction and Meeting MDGsMeeting MDGs

Agriculture Productivity through Research and Agriculture Productivity through Research and

ExtensionExtension Using new (to Rwanda) cultivation methods and input Using new (to Rwanda) cultivation methods and input

packages to boost agricultural productivity of packages to boost agricultural productivity of subsistence farmers. subsistence farmers.

Alternative Energy / Electricity Generation Alternative Energy / Electricity Generation Most Rwandans live in villages that are not connected Most Rwandans live in villages that are not connected

to the power grid. Building central generating plants to the power grid. Building central generating plants and connecting remote villages to the central grid is and connecting remote villages to the central grid is neither feasible nor affordable. Therefore, Rwanda will neither feasible nor affordable. Therefore, Rwanda will need to develop alternative, decentralized energy need to develop alternative, decentralized energy sources including wind, solar, thermal, small scale sources including wind, solar, thermal, small scale hydro and biofuel etc. to provide energy to rural hydro and biofuel etc. to provide energy to rural communities.communities.

Food Processing and Food Technology Food Processing and Food Technology Increasing agricultural yields will not improve food Increasing agricultural yields will not improve food

security if food cannot be safely processed and stored.security if food cannot be safely processed and stored.


STI Capacity for Poverty Reduction and STI Capacity for Poverty Reduction and Meeting MDGs (contd)Meeting MDGs (contd)

Appropriate Technology for Poverty Reduction Appropriate Technology for Poverty Reduction Water conservation and rain water harvestingWater conservation and rain water harvesting..

Water borne diseases, caused by a shortage of Water borne diseases, caused by a shortage of potable water, are a major source of illness in potable water, are a major source of illness in Rwanda, hence the need to introduce simple rain Rwanda, hence the need to introduce simple rain water harvesting / conservation techniques and water harvesting / conservation techniques and schemes in villages, coupled with water purification schemes in villages, coupled with water purification systems.systems.

hand-crank pumps, solar cookers, fuel efficient stoves, hand-crank pumps, solar cookers, fuel efficient stoves, etc. including innovation and technology transferetc. including innovation and technology transfer

Vocational and Technical Education and Vocational and Technical Education and TrainingTraining Rwanda suffers from a major shortage of skilled Rwanda suffers from a major shortage of skilled

technicians needed to perform tasks such as repair technicians needed to perform tasks such as repair automobiles, maintain electrical appliances & automobiles, maintain electrical appliances & electronic equip. as printers and copiers, and electronic equip. as printers and copiers, and craftsmen who can design and construct needed craftsmen who can design and construct needed facilities like rainwater harvesting systems.facilities like rainwater harvesting systems.


STI Capacity for Economic Diversification and STI Capacity for Economic Diversification and Income GenerationIncome Generation

they have carved out a niche at the high or premium they have carved out a niche at the high or premium end of the marketend of the market

the entrepreneurs who developed these businesses the entrepreneurs who developed these businesses all work (or plan to work) in partnership with all work (or plan to work) in partnership with subsistence farmerssubsistence farmers

Crops / commodities developed or under Crops / commodities developed or under development include:development include: CoffeeCoffee SilkSilk Horticulture (flowers, vegetables, fruits)Horticulture (flowers, vegetables, fruits) AquacultureAquaculture Herbs and EssentialHerbs and Essential

Rwanda has developed high value-added export industries Rwanda has developed high value-added export industries in such diverse fields as coffee, roses, and pyrethrum.in such diverse fields as coffee, roses, and pyrethrum. All All of these industries share several features in common, of these industries share several features in common, including:including:


Examples of Impact of InterventionsExamples of Impact of Interventions

Reinforce the capacity of Industries to conduct their own research.Reinforce the capacity of Industries to conduct their own research. BRALIRWA sole producer of beer in Rwanda. Scientific education & BRALIRWA sole producer of beer in Rwanda. Scientific education &

research to develop quality and range of productsresearch to develop quality and range of products

““Beer is chemistry”Beer is chemistry”

““A cow is a teacher and an agent of technology A cow is a teacher and an agent of technology transfer/diffusion”transfer/diffusion” Cow per household programme, government target - 600,000 cows in Cow per household programme, government target - 600,000 cows in

families in the next ten years.families in the next ten years. Training on products & by-products including: milk and milk processing, Training on products & by-products including: milk and milk processing,

meat, manure from the cow dung, energy produced from the cow dung, meat, manure from the cow dung, energy produced from the cow dung, etc etc

““Bringing cell phones to rural villages is like Bringing cell phones to rural villages is like introducing a positive charge into a quantum vacuum.”introducing a positive charge into a quantum vacuum.”

NICI Plan target to exponentially increase mobile phones in villagesNICI Plan target to exponentially increase mobile phones in villages The use of mobile phones will support literacy through the use of The use of mobile phones will support literacy through the use of

SMS, empowerment of the people through communication, and SMS, empowerment of the people through communication, and enhanced services such as mobile banking, enhanced services such as mobile banking,


33 Partnership Between GoR and Partnership Between GoR and World BankWorld Bank

Using STI Capacity Building in Rwanda as a Using STI Capacity Building in Rwanda as a Tool for Improving the Lives of the Rural Poor, Tool for Improving the Lives of the Rural Poor, Reducing Poverty, and Achieving the MDGsReducing Poverty, and Achieving the MDGs

Using STI Capacity Building in Rwanda as a Using STI Capacity Building in Rwanda as a Tool for Generating Wealth and Diversifying the Tool for Generating Wealth and Diversifying the EconomyEconomy

World Bank supporting the GoR in Science, Technology and Research Interventions across all Sectors as detailed previously with the aim of:

Visit of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to KISTVisit of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to KIST


Infrastructure and Human Infrastructure and Human Capacity Building in ResearchCapacity Building in Research

World Bank Support with:World Bank Support with: Baseline studies (Technical and Vocational Baseline studies (Technical and Vocational

Education, Agricultural Productivity and Education, Agricultural Productivity and Extension, Industry Capabilities, Research Extension, Industry Capabilities, Research Institutions etc.)Institutions etc.)

Includes Programme Design, Needs Includes Programme Design, Needs Assessment and Action PlanAssessment and Action Plan


Research FellowshipsResearch Fellowships

Sending Students abroadSending Students abroad

Industrial AttachmentsIndustrial Attachments

Reinforcement of Research Facilities Reinforcement of Research Facilities in Industriesin Industries

Centres of ExcellenceCentres of Excellence

Science and Technology ConferencesScience and Technology Conferences

Programme Items Include:Programme Items Include:


Laws Governing Science, Technology Laws Governing Science, Technology and Researchand Research

• Organic Law Science, Technology and Organic Law Science, Technology and ResearchResearch

• Laws governing Organisation and Functioning Laws governing Organisation and Functioning of National Commission for STI & Research of National Commission for STI & Research InstitutionsInstitutions

Establishment of National Commission for STIEstablishment of National Commission for STI

• Development, promotion and coordination of Development, promotion and coordination of Rwanda’s Science, Technology and Innovation Rwanda’s Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.Policy.

Partnership Between GoR and DfIDPartnership Between GoR and DfID

Kigali Institute of Science and Technology

Visit of Sir David King, UK Chief Scientific Advisor to KIST


ElectricityElectricity

The learning of power generation & distribution from source to end-user

ElectronicsElectronics

The study of television, telephone & radio

Partnership Between GoR and African Partnership Between GoR and African Development Bank Development Bank

ETO Gitarama Technical OptionsETO Gitarama Technical Options

Students in Library

Micro Biology Laboratory

Animal Health

Partnership Between GoR and African Development Partnership Between GoR and African Development BankBank ISAE BUSOGO CAMPUSISAE BUSOGO CAMPUS

Agroforestry Practices in Radical Terracing Run-off Plots for measuring Soil Loss

Farmlands Degradation due to Erosion

Partnership Between GoR and NETHERLAND NUFFICNETHERLAND NUFFIC

Masters course in Agro-Forestry and Soil ScienceMasters course in Agro-Forestry and Soil Science

Contour Cultivation for erosion control

Partnership Between GoR and Sweden SIDA SAREC: Masters course in Information and SIDA SAREC: Masters course in Information and

Communications TechnologyCommunications Technology

ICT Masters students in the ICT Lab at the National University of Rwanda

Corporate Partnerships in Building Science and Technology CapabilityJack Dangermond, Founder and President of Environmental Systems Research

Institute (ESRI) being received by President Paul Kagame

Inside Shopping Mall

Bar Code Reader Check out Technology

Inventory Management

Science and Technology in Action at New City Market

Surveillance System at New City Market


44 CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONThe importance of technological and scientific capacity for long The importance of technological and scientific capacity for long term sustained economic growth is already an accepted fact. term sustained economic growth is already an accepted fact.

Professor Abdus Salam: Professor Abdus Salam: Scientific and Technological knowledge Scientific and Technological knowledge is a “Human Kind Heritage.”is a “Human Kind Heritage.”

We request our development partners to continue to support the We request our development partners to continue to support the establishment of partnerships in technological transfer. These establishment of partnerships in technological transfer. These include: Japan, China, India, United States, UK, Ireland, Norway, include: Japan, China, India, United States, UK, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Sweden. Areas such as:Finland, Sweden. Areas such as:

Post doctoral training for our PHD holder lecturers in Post doctoral training for our PHD holder lecturers in universities,universities,

The establishment of a. S&T trust fund,The establishment of a. S&T trust fund, The establishment of research fellowships, The establishment of research fellowships, Industrial Attachments in all major projects,Industrial Attachments in all major projects, Specific Research in Commodities with potential for Specific Research in Commodities with potential for

Economic Growth,Economic Growth, The establishment and reinforcement of high quality The establishment and reinforcement of high quality

laboratories, including all health districts and a state laboratories, including all health districts and a state of the art reference laboratory,of the art reference laboratory,

To establish S&T Centres of Excellence in HLIs,To establish S&T Centres of Excellence in HLIs, Reinforce the capacity of Industries to conduct Reinforce the capacity of Industries to conduct

research by establishing R&D Units.research by establishing R&D Units.

The Role of Science and Technology for Rwanda’s Economic Growth Prof. Romain MURENZI Minister in President’s Office in Charge of Science, Technology and.

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