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National Research Week
The National Research Week (NRW), organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research and coordinated by the MRIC, provides a national platform for researchers, higher education institutions, industry, policymakers and other stakeholders to share knowledge and build meaningful collaborations.
National Research Week 2025
Held from 14 to 18 April 2025, the inaugural National Research Week adopted the theme “Uniting Research, Industry, and Innovation.” The five-day programme brought together diverse areas of research, from sustainability, economic development and health to culture, education and emerging technologies. The National Research Week 2025 featured 145 abstracts, eight keynote addresses and six panel discussions.
Day 1 – Innovating Sustainability: Synergies for a Resilient Future explored research and innovation for sustainability and resilience.
Day 2 – Global Economic Interactions and Health Innovations examined economic development, globalisation, finance and emerging health innovations.
Day 3 focused on the cultural, ethical and educational dimensions of building a sustainable society, including the role of technology in education.
Day 4 – Tech Horizons: Pioneering Future Technologies highlighted emerging technologies and their potential to transform society and industry.
Day 5 – Bridging Academia and Industry
The National Research Week 2025 culminated in “Research and Innovation in Action – Bridging Academia and Industry.” Organised by MRIC and its partners, the day focused on connecting research with industry needs, showcasing funded projects, entrepreneurship and incubation, and exploring pathways towards commercialisation.
The keynote by Dr Manish Diwan brought international perspectives on biotechnology and innovation, while the signing of an MoU between MIBL and UoM marked a concrete step towards stronger collaboration. Discussions on the National SME Incubator Scheme also highlighted the importance of measuring impact through startups, jobs, patents, spin-offs and private investment.
Day 5 therefore captured a central message of the National Research Week: research creates greater value when it connects with those who can translate knowledge into solutions, products and services.
From 2025 to 2026: Building on Momentum
The Proceedings of the National Research Week 2025 were launched on 8 September 2025 by Dr the Honourable Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, providing a lasting record of the inaugural edition. Building on the success of 2025, MRIC was once again entrusted with coordinating the National Research Week 2026.
National Research Week 2026
Held from 20 to 24 April 2026, the National Research Week 2026 adopted the theme “Research for Innovation, Society, and Sustainability.”
Day 2 – Bio-Health, Medicine and Biotechnology explored genomics, precision medicine, biotechnology and multidisciplinary approaches to health challenges, with contributions from international experts.
Day 3 – Climate Action, Blue Economy and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems focused on research responses to climate, environmental and food-security challenges.
Day 4 – AI, Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0 examined AI adoption, digital transformation, cyber resilience, 5G and the future of work and industry.
Day 5 – Future Society, Education and Human Development brought the Week towards its broader societal purpose, highlighting the role of research and innovation in developing a future-ready society.
Day 1 – From Discovery to Deals
Opening the National Research Week 2026, Day 1 placed research commercialisation and industry–academia collaboration at the centre of the national research agenda. Organised by the MRIC, Business Mauritius and MIBL, the day brought industry leaders, academics and international experts together to explore sustainable research–industry pathways, intellectual property, commercialisation and investment.
The programme went beyond discussion, featuring research pitches with commercial potential, sessions on biofrontiers, venture capital and satellite data, and a review of MRIC initiatives and achievements, including the National SME Incubator Scheme and the transition from MRIC to NRII.
Day 1 demonstrated how the philosophy of NRW has evolved: from bringing the research community together in 2025 to creating pathways for research to generate economic and societal impact in 2026.
Looking Ahead
Across its two editions, the National Research Week has established itself as a platform for connection, collaboration and impact. Its evolution reflects a clear ambition: to ensure that research does not remain within institutional boundaries, but contributes to innovation, economic development, sustainability and society.
The Proceedings of the National Research Week 2026 are currently being prepared, continuing the effort to document and extend the knowledge and collaborations generated through the Week.
By Dr R Jeetah-Rampadaruth
