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A DELEGATION FROM THE AFRICAN UNION OF BROADCASTING UNION (AUB) MEETS WITH THE MINISTER OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

A delegation of journalists from the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) was received in audience by the Minister, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, as a prelude to the organization of the Pan-African International Conference on African Audio-visual Media and Artificial Intelligence.

The Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, received a delegation from the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) in audience on Monday 22 January 2024 at 11:30 am.  The delegation of 3 journalists was led by AUB’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. NDJAKA Grégoire. Discussions focused on the importance of scientific information and the need to train journalists specializing in science.  The delegation informed the Minister of the organization of the Pan-African International Conference on African Audio-visual Media and Artificial Intelligence, to be held in Yaounde from 4 to 6 March 2024.  AUB’s initiative was welcomed by the Minister, who places great importance on the dissemination of research results.  MINRESI is fully committed to the development of Artificial Intelligence in Cameroon. It is with this in mind that, under its supervision, five (5) start-ups have been selected to receive funding from the French Embassy as part of the Startup237 project.

It was in light of these that the Minister instructed the Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Technology Development (CNDT) to support AUB with expertise from his institute.  Following the audience, CNDT and AUB officials held a restricted working session.

©Celtrad/MINRESI

AUDIENCE GRANTED TO CORAF DELEGATION AT MINRESI 

On 18 January 2024, a delegation from the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) was granted an audience at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation.  The delegation consisted of the President of CORAF’s Board of Directors, accompanied by the Executive Director of the institution and the Director of Research and Innovation.

The delegation was received by the Secretary General of MINRESI in her capacity as representative of the Minister, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, who was unable to attend.  She was accompanied by the Inspector General of MINRESI, the Director General of IRAD and some of the Minister’s close collaborators.

The purpose of this courtesy visit was for CORAF to present the conclusions and prospects arising from the regional conference organized in Yaounde from 16 to 18 January 2024.  This conference is part of the process of revising the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at ECCAS level.  CORAF, which covers 23 countries, is committed to supporting this process.  To this end, the organization intends to ensure that in the process of drafting the CAP, research and training are taken into account.  Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, CORAF is also planning to set up a representative office in Central Africa.  Talks are already underway to this end.

©Celtrad/MINRESI

 PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF NEW YEAR WISHES TO THE MINISTER OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

The ceremony to present wishes to the Minister Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE was held on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 at the esplanade of the annex building number 1. 

The Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation was celebrating this Wednesday, 17 January 2024.It was on the occasion of the presentation ceremony of New Year wishes to the Minister, Dr𝑀𝘢𝑑𝘦𝑙𝘦𝑖𝘯𝑒𝑇𝘊𝐻𝘜𝐼𝘕𝑇𝘌. Madeleine TCHUINTE. A moment of togetherness and happiness shared by the top hierarchy of this ministry with  Heads of central and devolved services, as well as those from institutes under her supervision. Also present were representatives of cooperation organizations, national and international partners and personnel from the ministry.

The ceremony, which took place in two phases, was rich in colour, sound and symbolism.

First came the protocol phase.It enabled the Secretary General, Prof EBELLE ETAME Rebecca Madeleine, to give an exhaustive review of the year 2023, an array of activities which demonstrated the importance of research in our country.

Several MINRESI staff received congratulations and encouragement for their commitment and dedication to theirwork during this year. Highlight of this phase was, without a doubt, the Minister’s speech. She outlined some of MINRESI’s major wins and achievements in 2023, including the signing of the Decree to lay down special rules and regulations governing research personnel by the President of the Republic, H.E. 𝑃𝘢𝑢𝘭𝘉𝐼YA.

The much-awaited second phase namely the presentation of wishes was opened by the Central Administration led by the Secretary General.This was followed by the Regional Research and Innovation Centres (CRRI), Institutes under technical supervision, cooperating organizations and finally, special guests.

Family photos with the Minister and an agape brought the ceremony to a close.

©Celtrad/MINRESI

SPECIAL STATUS OF RESEARCHERS: ADDITIONAL TEXTS TO THE DECREE OF 8 AUGUST 2023 UNDER DISCUSSION AT MINRESI

With a view to preparing additional texts to the decree of 8 August 2023 on the special status of research staff, a working session was held on 27 December 2023 in the conference room of the National Centre for Education (CNE). This session brought together officials from the central administration and researchers, notably Directors General of Institutes under the technical supervision of MINRESI.

The conference room of the National Centre for Education (CNE) was the setting for a meeting to examine and amend draft additional texts to the Decree No. 2023/337 of 8 August 2023 on the Special Status of Research Staff. The Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, unfortunately absent, was represented by the Inspector General of MINRESI, Professor Gilbert TAGUEM FAH. In his opening remarks, he reported the following concerning this special status: ‘a new page in the National Research and Innovation System is being opened’. Moreover, he highlighted the Minister’s interest to involve all research stakeholders in these discussions, in order to avoid disagreements. To this end, the meeting brought together heads of the central administration and those of institutes under the technical supervision of MINRESI. The latter were given the opportunity to make suggestions relating to various aspects of their career, notably: the amount and methods of payment of bonuses; methods and criteria regarding promotion to a higher grade; methods of recruitment and promotion of researchers. Following this inclusive approach, opportunity was given to the Union of Public Sector Researchers to be closely involved in the preparatory phase of these draft texts, and Its proposals were taken into account during the drafting process.

The objective of this meeting was to fine-tune the draft texts implementing the provisions contained in the presidential decree on the special status of researchers. The various texts were carefully examined and amended, with the aim of creating conducive working conditions for the socio-professional well-being of researchers, and contribute to development through Research, in accordance with the provisions of NDS30.

THE MINISTER OF SCIENTIFIC RESEACH AND INNOVATION GRANTS AN AUDIENCE TO THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CAMEROON

The Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE granted an audience to the Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon. At the end of his stay, the diplomat bid farewell after two years of fruitful cooperation with MINRESI.

On Wednesday 29 November 2023, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, granted an audience to H.E. SHRI ANINDYA BANERJEE, Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon. This was a farewell visit marking the end of the Indian diplomat’s stay in Cameroon. It reflects the excellent cooperation between MINRESI and Indian High Commission.

India and Cameroon enjoy long-standing and excellent relations in several key areas, including scientific research and innovation. During his stay in Cameroon, the Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon and Minister for Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, met on several occasions. On December 21, 2022, they met for an audience that focused on the India-Cameroon-Germany triangular project. The project, which concerned the transfer of agricultural technology known as Rooted Apical Cutting (RAC) technology, involved Bagalkot University in India, Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD) in Cameroon and GIZ, German cooperation mechanism.

Rooted Apical Cutting (RAC) is a technique for producing potato seed using apical technology. This technology, developed in India, involves the mass production of seed potato through tissue culture. Cameroon is the second African country, modelled on Kenya, to benefit from this technology. As part of this project, a training workshop was organised in September 2022 in Bafoussam involving Indian experts. In October of the same year, IRAD researchers travelled to India to learn more about the said technology. IRAD then set up a project to produce potato seed using rooted apical cuttings (RAC), the pilot phase of which lasted 8 months. Hundreds of seed potato producers were trained in the use of the rooted apical cuttings technique. Cameroon’s objective is to reach a production level of 30,000 tonnes per year. Similarly, the Indian government is providing training grants to MINRESI researchers under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme, with a view to build capacity in various fields.

This farewell audience was an opportunity for the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation to express her gratitude to the Indian Government for its support in technology transfer between Cameroon and India. She also praised the strong involvement of H.E. SHRI ANINDYA BANERJEE who, during his stay in Cameroon, strengthened and diversified the scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries.

The Indian diplomat, who arrived in Cameroon on February 2022, said he was particularly pleased to learn that the triangular project on the transfer of apical technology for the production of seed potatoes had been a success in Cameroon.  He added that his successor would continue in the same vein, with the possibility of extending this cooperation to other sectors. At the close of the audience, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation exchanged courtesies with the diplomat, wishing him success all through his career.

©Celtrad/MINRESI

SPECIAL STATUS OF RESEARCHERS SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS TO THE DECREE OF 8 AUGUST 2023 UNDER DISCUSSION AT MINRESI

A working session was held on 27 December 2023 in the conference room of the National Centre for Education (CNE) to prepare supplementary texts to the 8 August 2023 Decree to lay down special rules and regulations governing research personnel. It brought together officials from the central administration and researchers, led by the Directors General of the Institutes under MINRESI’s technical supervision.

The meeting which held in the conference room of the National Centre for Education (CNE) aimed at examining and amending draft supplementary instruments to Decree 2023/337 of 8 August 2023 to lay down special rules and regulations governing Research Personnel. The Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine TCHUINTE, who was unavoidably absent, was represented by the Inspector General of MINRESI, Professor Gilbert TAGUEM FAH. In his opening remarks, he said that with the special status, ‘a new page in the National Research and Innovation System is being opened’. He also pointed out that the Minister was keen to ensure all research stakeholders were involved in the discussions in order to avoid any disputes. This is why the meeting involved heads of the central administration and institutes under the technical supervision of MINRESI. The latter were given the opportunity to make proposals relating to various aspects of their careers, especially amounts and methods of payment of incentives, methods and criteria for promotion to a higher grade, as well as methods of recruitment and promotion of researchers. As part of an inclusive approach, the Public Sector Researchers’ trade union was closely involved in the preparatory phase of these draft texts. Its proposals were taken into account during the drafting process.

The aim of the meeting was to fine-tune draft instruments to implement provisions of the presidential decree to lay down special rules and regulation governing research personnel. The various instruments were meticulously scrutinised and amended, focusing on the creation of working conditions conducive to the socio-professional fulfilment of researchers and contribution of research to development, in line with the requirements of the NDS30.

©Celtrad/MINRESI

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