16 Feb 2021- Signature of MoU between UoM & MCCI

Post date: Mar 03, 2021 9:38:55 AM

COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS (UoM)

AND

MAURITIUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (MCCI)

SIGNATURE OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING:

TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2021

UoM and MCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday 16 February 2021. This collaboration reinforces Academia-Industry partnership and aims at developing and fostering joint collaboration in the areas of, but not limited to, industry-led research and research publications, project development, organization of sectoral policy dialogue and Innovation Week as well as sharing of UoM E-Library resources.

Signature of MoU by Prof D Jhurry, CSK, GOSK, FAAS, Vice-Chancellor, UoM and Dr Yousouf Ismaël, Secretary-General, MCCI

Mr Guillaume Hugnin, President and Mrs Namita Jagarnath Hardowar, Vice-President of MCCI Council as well as Mr Ganessen Chinnapen, Economist at MCCI, were also present at the Signing Ceremony.

Commenting on the significance of this collaboration, Professor Jhurry reiterated the need for the University and Industry to join hands so that innovation can thrive in the country and suggested a few areas where academia and industry can combine efforts:

· Education and Training: Participation of firms in the design and delivery of programs to better respond to industry needs;

· Enhance Knowledge diffusion: Scholarships to doctoral students to conduct their research in industry. This should improve employment possibilities and broaden the career paths of young researchers;

· Promote Tech Transfer: absorption and adaptation of knowledge developed abroad and at UoM;

· Funding: Come up with a matching grant scheme to stimulate University-Industry research collaboration;

· Policy formulation: MCCI and UoM can work on a list of policy measures and incentives to promote University-Industry collaboration for Government’s consideration in the coming budget; and

· Creation of a Digital Platform for information and knowledge dissemination and promotion of research and innovation, e.g. Tech Watch, Market Intelligence.

Prof Jhurry also called for a reflection on mechanisms that could be developed at the UoM to incentivize academics to collaborate with Industry.

On his part, Dr Ismaël stated that MCCI and UoM already enjoy a close relationship. The signing of this MoU is the continuation of the discussions that started during the Innovation Week co-organised by UoM and MCCI in December last year on ways and means to reinforce partnership with the private sector.

This industry-academia linkage that will conduct industrial research, industry reviews, assessing competitiveness of various industries in the country and at the same time propose palatable solutions to issues identified is therefore a MUST. He assured that MCCI will continue to support this bond to create the much needed research and innovation culture and ecosystem as it is vital that we develop a research and innovation hub that will cater for our local needs.