The project "Transforming the Waste Sector to a Waste-Energy Nexus in the South-West Indian Ocean Region (TWENex)" is co-funded by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU). It concerns Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar. It started in December 2021, for a period of 42 months.  

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The project aims to boost national innovation systems and build research and innovation capacity by supporting the research community. Through the implementation of demonstration projects and living labs, the action will not only develop skills in research, project implementation and policy development, but also promote local and indigenous knowledge in the fields of renewable energy technologies (RETs). The knowledge area will be supported by tools for the effective collection and exchange of information at national and regional levels. The project is led by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), in consortium with the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC).  

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The Regional Innovation Forum, held on the 28 and 29 January 2025, aimed at contributing to sustainable networking in the Indian Ocean Basin and as a result, the Research and Innovation Council of Mauritius was asked to help organise this event.  

 

 Objectives of the Regional Forum  

• Create a platform for exchanges at the regional level for public and private actors;  

• Highlight Research and Innovation initiatives and perspectives for the South-West Indian Ocean basin;  

• Facilitate opportunities for scientific collaboration, publicize research programs in the field of waste-to-energy;  

• Connecting waste value chain actors from the public and private sectors; and 

• Components of the Regional Innovation Forum. 

 

The Regional Innovation Forum was structured around thematic events that promote knowledge sharing, promotion of regional initiatives, debate of ideas, technical exchanges, networking, and cross-sectoral collaboration.  

 

The components of the Innovation Forum were:  

 

• The Official Opening Ceremony   

• Thematic pitches  

• Discussion Panels  

• The Forum-Exhibition   

• A Match-Making Event 

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