National Research Week 2026 sets out to foster a Robust Research Culture

The National Research Week (NRW) 2026, organised by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research and coordinated by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), was launched this morning by the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Dr Kaviraj Sukon, in Ebene.

Spanning from 20 to 24 April 2026, the NRW will serve as a flagship national platform dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among higher education institutions, research organisations, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society. This year’s theme is “Research for Innovation, Society, and Sustainability”.

In his address on the occasion, Minister Sukon outlined the core objective of this second edition of the NRW is to bring together public and private higher education institutions on the same platform in order to foster a robust and thriving a research culture as well as build trust among all parties.

He underpinned the necessity for a unified approach among these institutions to address critical national challenges, pointing out that the NRW is an opportunity to create clusters to enable them to combine their expertise and efforts.

Speaking about the inclusion of international speakers in the NRW 2026, the Minister highlighted the valuable opportunity for expertise and knowledge sharing as well as global exposure. He also called on public and private institutions to come together to increase the chances of the country to secure international research funds.

Underscoring the business sector's involvement in this NRW, Dr Sukon underlined its crucial role in concretising ideas that have been churned out by academics. He deemed collaboration between the academia and industry as essential for providing students and researchers with key tools and equipment, adding that it is also a way to strengthen the bond with the industry to align with the demands of the job market.

As for the Executive Director of the MRIC, Professor Theesan Bahorun, he qualified the NRW as a structured space for encounter between disciplines, institutions, and sectors, that is designed to create visibility for research efforts, stimulate dialogue, and encourage collaboration.

The opening ceremony was also marked by a presentation delivered by the Avian Species Director of the Colossal Biosciences (USA), Dr Anna Keyte, about their de-extinction programs, more particularly concerning the Dodo. She dwelt on the key de-extinction processes that are being carried out, also indicating that a Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee reuniting Mauritius’ best scientists, business leaders, conservationists, academics and community members, was set up to work closely with Colossal Biosciences.

Moreover, she informed that the restoration of the Dodo must be accompanied by a restoration of the ecosystems the iconic bird inhabited, for which purpose Colossal Biosciences is partnering with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation to restore the native flora and fauna of Mauritius and its isles. These efforts will have a cascade of ecological benefits for all Mauritian species, she stated.

20 April 2026

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Topics: Education