MAURITIUSMAURITIUS RESEARCH RESEARCH COUNCIL COUNCIL Mauritius Research Council Level 6, Ebène Heights, 34 Cybercity, Ebène 72201 Mauritius Tel: (230) 465 1235 Fax: (230) 465 1239 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.mrc.org.mu MAURITIUSAnnual RESEARCHReport 2014 COUNCIL CONTENTS Vision, Mission and Objectives 3 Letter from Chairperson 4 Looking Ahead 5 Corporate Governance Report 7 Staff of the Council 20 Key Performance Indicators 21 MRC Research Grant Schemes 22 The Year in Retrospect 25 Financial Highlights 40 Financial Statements – Year ended 31 December 2014 45 Annex I – List of Ongoing projects as at 31 December 2014 71 Annex II – List of Projects Completed during 2014 80 Annex III – List of events organized by the Council in 2014 82 2 2014 I ANNUAL REPORT Vision, Mission and Objectives MAURITIUS RESEARCH COUNCIL The Mauritius Research Council (MRC) was set up in May 1992 (Act no. 10 of 1992) as an apex body to promote and co-ordinate national investment in research. In order to strengthen the mandate of the Council while taking into account the changes in the research and innovation landscape in Mauritius since 1992, the MRC Act was amended in 2014. The MRC (Amendment) Act 2014 was proclaimed in September 2014. Our Vision: “Shaping up the Mauritius of tomorrow through research, technology and innovation” Our Mission: “Promoting and pioneering research for sustainable development to enhance the quality of life of the people of Mauritius” Objectives of the Council The objectives of the Council are to: foster, promote and coordinate research, development and innovation, in line with the economic, technological and social needs of Mauritius; encourage commercial utilisation of research, development and innovation, results in the national interest; foster the development of a research culture; promote science and technology; and enhance private sector participation in research, development and innovation. The MRC (Amendment) Act 2014 The Mauritius Research Council (Amendment) Act 2014 (Act No.1 of 2014) was proclaimed [Proclamation No. 33 of 2014] with effect from 1 September 2014: (Section 8); Government Gazette of Mauritius No. 36 of 19 April 2014. The main object of this Act are to: strengthen the mandate of the Council; ensure more effective coordination and rationalisation of research, development and innovation at the national level in line with the economic, technological and social needs of Mauritius; enhance private sector participation in research, development and innovation. The aim is to create, acquire and promote the application of scientific and technological knowledge to meet Mauritian needs for economic and social development, and to promote and provide for the use of scientific and technical information towards evidence-based policy decision making by both the public and private sectors. The MRC will play a pivotal role at the heart of the innovation system, rationalising and providing access to strategic research and development. It will open the doors to a more efficient use of technical expertise, people and services, and the specialized scientific infrastructure needed to succeed. The refocused MRC will strengthen industry by encouraging more business investment to develop innovative products and services. Importantly, innovators from both public and private sector will be encouraged to own and develop their intellectual property thereby seeking to ensure that the outcome of research is made available for society’s benefit. ANNUAL REPORT I 2014 3 Letter from CHAIRPERSON The Hon. Marie Joseph Noël Etienne Ghislain Sinatambou Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation 4th floor, New Government Centre Port Louis Honourable Minister, As required by Act No. 10 of 1992, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Mauritius Research Council for the year 2014. Yours faithfully, Mr J D Phokeer Ag. Chairperson 4 2014 I ANNUAL REPORT MAURITIUS RESEARCH COUNCIL Looking AHEAD The Mauritius Research Council (MRC) has to respond organizations have to cooperate and share information in even more effectively to the urgent call for innovation, be an open, but trusting and reliable arena. it in the society, in the environment or the economy. Since its inception in 1992, the Act of the MRC has emphasized With a heightened focus on the commercial potential the importance of harnessing the benefit of science and of research, the Council realizes that while conceiving technology for the economic development of the country, innovative ideas, projects and policies to keep abreast of while also giving due attention to social issues. Over development, the real success lies in targeted and more time, the MRC has played its role fully to the extent of effective initiatives to incentivise the transfer and subsequent contributing to capacity building to support scientific and commercial development of research. In this context, the social research, as well as spearheading a number of new strategic and organizational approach being adopted green-field projects on a national scale, including those by the Council brings with it a much closer involvement related to the ‘Ocean Economy’, among which the ‘Land in the creation and management of innovation, as well Based Oceanic Industry’ and ‘Seaweed Industry’, both of as in entrepreneurial activities and engagement with which offer enormous potential for innovation that can industry. This new organizational approach also reflects bring sustained benefits to the country. the MRC’s willingness to adopt and put into practice the evolving nature of technology/knowledge transfer and The Council has therefore evolved beyond its traditional commercialization, based around multifaceted, multi- research funding role to one that actively conducts and actor and multi-level interactions across and beyond the coordinates research to investigate issues of national country’s national borders. concern. Its sphere of influence touches education, training, skills development, problem solving, creation The MRC Amendment Act 2014 will enhance the and diffusion of knowledge and technology, and the spearheading role of the MRC in the promotion and transmission of newly acquired outcomes of research. execution of innovation, research and development in Mauritius. The above objectives require resources and inter- institutional collaboration, while operating in a multi- disciplinary environment in which the traditional demarcation between science and business gets blurred as commercialization of research outputs becomes a Dr A Suddhoo necessity for the creation of jobs and wealth. This also Executive Director requires the breaking down of institutional barriers as ANNUAL REPORT I 2014 5 MAURITIUS RESEARCH COUNCIL 1. Corporate Governance Report M AURITIUS RESEARCH COUNCIL 1.1. The Board The Board is ultimately responsible and accountable for the performance and affairs of the organisation. The fulfilling of these responsibilities is facilitated by a well-developed governance structure comprising various Board Sub- Committees. Management is accountable and subject to the control of the Board and operates within the policy framework laid down by the latter. All functions are exercised in accordance with the MRC Act, other relevant statutory provisions and the principles of good corporate governance. 1.1.1. Composition of the Board The Board is composed of representatives from the government, academia and the private sector as listed in the MRC Act. The Board met five times during the period January 2014 to December 2014. The Chairman and members of the Board are appointed by the Minister, to whom responsibility of the Board is assigned in accordance with Section 5 of the MRC Act. The Executive Director is appointed by the Board. The profiles of the Board members for the year 2014 are given in Section 1.6. 1.1.2 Attendance at Board Meetings Meetings of the Board Members Attendance Payment (Rs) Prof S Jugessur, Chairperson 5/5 see note 1.3 Ex-Officio Secretary Dr A Suddhoo, Executive Director 5/5 5,000 Representatives of Government Ms S Valère, Prime Minister’s Office 0/5 0 Representative of Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: Mrs S Rama 0/5 0 Mrs S Sew-Hee 2/5 2,000 Mr A Kokil 2/5 2,000 Representatives of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research & Technology: Dr N Luckheenarain 2/5 2,000 Mr A Sobratee 2/5 2,000 Mr D Kawol, Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security 1/5 1,000 Representatives of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection: Mr R Imrit 2/5 2,000 Mr R Ghose 1/5 1,000 Representatives of Academia and Private Sector Prof R Mohee, Vice Chancellor, University of Mauritius 3/5 3,000 Dr S Reddi, Adviser, Ministry of Education and Human Resources 3/5 3,000 Dr S Saumtally, Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, 4/5 4,000 Mauritius Cane Industry Authority Mr C Li Foo Wing, Private Sector 1/5 1,000 Mrs R Nanhuck, Mauritius Standards Bureau 3/5 3,000 Mr J Ramkissoon ,Food and Agricultural Research Council 0/5 0 Dr R Daliah, National Economic and Social Council 5/5 5,000 ANNUAL REPORT I 2014 7 1.1.3 Major Decisions of the Board in 2014 Board took note and approved the refurbishment works for the Bel Air Campus of the International Institute of Technology Research Academy. Board approved the launching of the Best Young Mauritian Scientist Award 2014. Board was informed that the MRC (Amendment) Act 2014 (Act No. 1 of 2014) had been proclaimed with effect from 01 September 2014 (Proclamation No. 33 of 2014). Board approved the Budget 2014. Board took note and approved the procurement process and revised threshold for signing amounts. Board took note of the launching of the Collaborative Research and Innovation Grant Scheme. Board approved the launching of the Call for Proposals 2014 for specific schemes of the Council. Board approved the nomination of the proposed members for the National Research and Innovation Advisory Committee. Board was informed of the progress made by the Advisory Council on Marine Renewable Energy cluster set up by the Task Force on Ocean Economy.