‘Positive results’ from research cooperation with French

Cooperation in fields of scientific research between Côte d’Ivoire and the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, or IRD, has shown positive results, said Professor Bakayoko Ly Ramata, the Ivorian minister for higher education and scientific research.

“Collaboration between IRD researchers and those of Côte d’Ivoire has become stronger with the end of the post-electoral crisis,” said Ramata at a meeting in Abidjan with the president and director of the IRD, Jean-Paul Moatti, reported Fratmat.info.

“As proof, we have the establishment of the IRD on the campus of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny with the appointment of its representative Jean-Marc Hougard, who leads the scientific activities of the IRD in Côte d’Ivoire.

“We can mention, among other things, the science cafés that promote the research carried out in the research institutes and centres, and the important international mixed unit specialising in resilience that has been set up,” Ramata added.

She said several positive results in research were due to cooperation with IRD, such as international mixed laboratories and associated young research teams; the remarkable development of tuna fishing thanks to the IRD’s contribution to the Centre of Oceanological Research; and participation in doctoral programmes on climate, reported Fratmat.info.

The minister welcomed IRD’s new strategy to focus on development of the South, and several partnerships with universities and institutes.

In addition to Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, these included the universities of Alassane Ouattara in Bouaké and Jean Lorougnon Guédé in Daloa, the National Centre for Agronomic Research, the Centre of Oceanological Research and the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics.

For Jean-Paul Moatti, the aims of the accords included the joint fulfilment of research programmes or mutually agreed specific actions, the management and creation of units and laboratories of excellence, evaluation of research results and technology transfer, reported Fratmat.info.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.