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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this edition of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council Newsletter.

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Mauritius has progressively built a strong foundation for research and innovation through investment in research, the development of national priorities, expanding international partnerships and growing capabilities in emerging fields. The MRIC has been an important contributor to this journey. As we look ahead, the opportunity is to build upon these achievements towards a more connected, dynamic and impact-driven national research and innovation ecosystem.

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This edition of the newsletter comes at a particularly significant moment, as the MRIC approaches the end of an important chapter and the national research and innovation landscape prepares for the transition towards the National Research and Innovation Institute (NRII). This evolution provides an opportunity to build upon the experience and foundations established over the years, while opening a new chapter for research and innovation in Mauritius.

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At the heart of this vision is the emergence of an innovation mindset across our society. We envisage a Mauritius where curiosity, creativity, problem solving and innovation are progressively nurtured from an early age; where our young people grow up with the confidence to question, explore, experiment and transform ideas into meaningful solutions. Over time, such a culture can provide the human foundation from which future researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and creators emerge.

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Equally important is an ecosystem characterised by the convergence of ideas, expertise and resources. The Mauritius we envisage is one where researchers connect across disciplines, academia and industry interact more closely, and national capabilities are enriched through strong international partnerships. Such an environment can enable knowledge and expertise developed in different spaces to come together, building upon existing strengths and creating possibilities that may not emerge when institutions and disciplines operate independently.

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For a small island state, this presents a particularly exciting prospect. Our physical resources may be limited, but ideas have no geographical boundaries. Mauritius has the potential to evolve from being predominantly a user of technologies and innovations developed elsewhere to becoming increasingly a creator of knowledge, solutions and intellectual property.

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In such an ecosystem, promising ideas can evolve into innovations, which in turn can generate intellectual property and patents. Our knowledge and creativity can therefore become resources, enabling Mauritius to export not only goods and services, but also ideas and innovation.

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This trajectory also holds the potential for the emergence of new areas of economic activity, high-value employment and opportunities for our young people, while positioning Mauritius more strongly within regional and global knowledge and innovation networks.

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Ultimately, the value of this journey will be measured by its impact on our country and its people. The aspiration is for research and innovation to contribute not only to economic growth, but also to a more resilient and sustainable Mauritius, an improved quality of life, and greater opportunities for present and future generations.

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As this chapter in the journey of the MRIC draws to a close, we look ahead with confidence to the opportunities that the next chapter may bring, while recognising the contribution of all those who have helped build the foundations upon which the future of research and innovation in Mauritius can continue to evolve.