The Centre national de documentation et de recherche scientifique (Cndrs) in Comoros recently organized a two-day seminar on September 15-16, focusing on mechanisms for financing scientific research. The event brought together researchers, teachers, doctoral students, and partners to discuss funding opportunities, project development, and international scientific networks. The seminar aimed to enhance research capabilities in Comoros and foster institutional partnerships. Key stakeholders, including government officials and academics, participated in the opening ceremony.
The seminar's opening ceremony saw several high-profile attendees, including Toiwilou Mze Hamadi, Director General of Cndrs, who welcomed participants. Ibouroi Ali Tabibou, Rector of the University of Comoros (Udc), emphasized the crucial role of research in the country's development. He stressed the need for researchers to identify funding opportunities and build scientific partnerships. Tabibou also praised the cooperation between Cndrs and the Fédération des conseils de la recherche scientifique (Fcrs), highlighting the value of sharing experiences.
Antoy Anfande, Comoros' Ambassador to Egypt and representative to the Arab League, encouraged researchers to engage more with international scientific networks and leverage cooperation programs. He urged them to capitalize on the seminar to establish contacts and focus on applied research addressing population needs, particularly in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. Anfande emphasized the importance of integrating new researchers into the global scientific community.
Saïd Soule Saïd, Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education and Research, highlighted the increasing costs of research. He called for creating synergies among stakeholders to share experiences and knowledge. The seminar covered various programs, including Horizon Europe, Cost, Erasmus+, and Prima, as well as cooperation initiatives with African and Arab scientific networks.
The seminar's second day saw the presentation of key takeaways by Toiwilou Mze Hamadi. Institutional meetings focused on national priorities, foreign partnerships, and challenges in project development. Hamadi emphasized the need to transition from individual initiatives to more structured institutional cooperation, stressing the importance of identifying programs aligned with national priorities and developing partner networks.
The seminar proposed several strategies, including monitoring programs, establishing a partner database, providing training, and identifying priority themes. Hamadi underscored the need to translate the seminar's outcomes into concrete actions. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in scientific research financing in Comoros.
The Cndrs seminar concluded with a renewed focus on collaboration and strategic planning to enhance research capabilities in Comoros. By strengthening institutional partnerships and identifying funding opportunities, researchers and stakeholders aim to drive scientific progress and address national development needs. The outcomes of the seminar are expected to have a lasting impact on the country's research landscape.
Key points
- The seminar aimed to strengthen research capabilities in Comoros and foster institutional partnerships.
- Researchers and stakeholders discussed funding opportunities, project development, and international scientific networks.
- The event proposed strategies to translate outcomes into concrete actions, including monitoring programs and establishing a partner database.
