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Mozambique’s STEM Revolution: Unlocking Potential through Computational Mathematics at UniRovuma

Posted on by Janet Otieno

The pulse of innovation is much alive in northern Mozambique at the University of Rovuma (UniRovuma) in Nampula Province as witnessed recently, by a team from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) who visited the institution as part of the Improvement for Skills Development in Mozambique (MozSkills) project monitoring and evaluation.

Through a 2021 agreement, the Government of Mozambique, with support from the World Bank, committed USD 6 million to the icipe-managed Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology – Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (PASET-Rsif). The investment is fuelling 40 PhD scholarships and 14 homegrown research and innovation projects.

A group photo with the University of Rovuma (UniRovuma) Rector and some members of staff when icipe team visited.
A group photo with the University of Rovuma (UniRovuma) Rector and some members of staff when icipe team visited.

Research solving real world problems

One standout is UniRovuma’s leap into computational mathematics laboratory — training lecturers and students in modern tools like Python, mathematical modeling, and applied statistics. This room buzzing with the click of keyboards and the language of Python code is bridging the gap between traditional math education and the digital demands of today’s STEM fields, equipping graduates to solve real-world problems in industry and public service. This laboratory is now buzzing with the click of keyboards and the language of Python code.

Mathematics laboratory at Unirovuma
Computational mathematics laboratory at UniRovuma

An interview with Dr Elisa da Conceição José Maria, the project lead at UniRovuma revealed that the innitiative arose from the need to strengthen practical and digital skills among lecturers and students, which were still limited and hindered the university’s ability to effectively contribute to research and development in STEM areas.

“The reliance on exclusively theoretical methods without computational tools left students insufficiently prepared to face technical challenges. Mozambique and the region urgently need data-driven approaches to tackle issues such as climate change, food security, and public health—making this project essential,” Dr Elisa stated.

She pointed out that originally, the UniRovuma emerged from the division of the former Universidade Pedagógica—a national university mainly focused on teacher training. After its division into five regional institutions, UniRovuma began serving the northern region of Mozambique and expanded its scope beyond education to include technical fields and STEM courses. However, this restructuring was not accompanied by the redistribution of laboratory resources or the creation of new infrastructure. The introduction of new programmes required lecturers to be trained in technical and computational content. The lack of adequate resources and the need to adapt to the new institutional model motivated the launch of this project.

PASET-Rsif/MozSkills support

The leap into computational mathematics at the UnRovuma has been made possible through PASET-Rsif/MozSkills support. With Rsif funding, the university established a fully equipped computational mathematics laboratory, complete with 18 computers, creating a dedicated space where students and lecturers can explore programming, mathematical modeling, and applied statistics in practice. It also has a smartboard, internet access, and teaching materials. Besides, it supported the training of 15 lecturers and more than 503 students in Python programming and mathematical modeling. It also facilitated the development of applied projects that connect mathematical theory to real-world challenges, the drafting of scientific articles, and funding for their publication. Based on the skills acquired by lecturers and students, a practical initiative was launched with a focus on activities, research, and outreach in computational mathematics, leveraging all the human and material resources created through the laboratory’s implementation.

Dr Elisa da Conceição José Maria
Dr Elisa da Conceição José Maria (C) who is the project lead and some of her colleagues.

Sustainability of the project

What sets Rsif’s support apart, according to Dr Elisa and her team members, is its flexibility and clear alignment with the institution’s strategic goals. Beyond funding, the programme is designed with sustainability in mind — ensuring that the skills, infrastructure, and research capacity being built today will continue to serve Mozambique’s development long after the project ends. This is unlike short-term interventions since Rsif funding enables long-term capacity building, including the training of local experts, support for gender inclusion, promotion of innovation in the national education system, and provision of essential materials for research. Moreover, it encourages scientific production through support for article publication.

The project is tackling long-standing gaps in mathematics education at UniRovuma. Dr Elisa states that until recently, programming had little presence in the curriculum, and many researchers relied heavily on commercial software such as SPSS, which limited flexibility and innovation. By introducing open-source tools and strengthening skills in mathematical modeling, the programme is equipping students and faculty with the versatility and analytical depth needed for modern STEM research and problem-solving. “It also addresses the disconnect between mathematics curricula and practical applications, especially in data analysis, geospatial computing, and predictive modeling. Key focuses include training lecturers in STEM methodologies, promoting real-world problem-solving, and preparing students for the job market,” she elaborates.

Translating theory into practice

Key technological solutions being developed include the integration of Python into the undergraduate curriculum, development of local training modules in computational modeling, and applied research projects using techniques such as time series analysis (ARIMA/SARIMA) and geospatial risk mapping.  “One highlight is the mathematical modeling of environmental phenomena. These approaches help translate mathematical theory into tools for solving practical problems,” Dr Elisa says.

Through a series of intensive training programmes, the initiative has strengthened the skills of both students and lecturers, equipping them with practical expertise in Python, data science, and mathematical modeling. Participants have also gained training in scientific article writing — a skill that not only supports academic success but also enhances their ability to share research findings with the wider scientific community. Dr Elisa highlighted that it has also promoted the leadership of female instructors and encouraged interdisciplinary research.

“Over 500 students have been trained, many of whom are now engaged in applied research and pursuing advanced studies. They are also using the skills they’ve learned to prepare their final year theses,” she revealed.

Collaboration and partnerships

Collaboration lies at the heart of the project, bringing together national, regional, and international partners to amplify its impact. The University of Porto,in Portugal for instance, trained the first cohort of lecturers in Python, providing a strong foundation for the computational mathematics programme. Locally, partnerships with institutions such as the Nampula Municipal Council and other universities in Nampula ensure the work remains closely tied to community needs and supports practical, real-world applications of the skills being developed. These collaborations increase the relevance of research, provide mentorship, and support the implementation of applied studies in real contexts. For some scientific papers, we also collaborate with researchers from local universities.

The project is closely aligned with Mozambique’s national development priorities of improving education quality, promoting scientific research, and developing digital skills and the new African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA) 2034 pillars by contributing to knowledge production, technological innovation, and solutions to socioeconomic challenges through STEM education and applied mathematics.

The advances in computational mathematics through this project have far-reaching benefits across multiple real-world sectors, including agriculture—where it supports forecasting of prices and seasonal patterns; health—by enabling analysis of factors affecting maternal and child well-being; environment—through geospatial modeling of erosion risks and climate data; and education, where it strengthens the STEM curriculum and prepares the next generation of educators with vital computational skills.

Beyond mathematics, this project provides evidence-based tools and data analysis to support decision-making in municipal planning, agricultural policy, public health interventions, and educational reform. By training local researchers, it ensures sustainability and fosters innovation tailored to community needs.

Significant milestones

Since its inception, the project has already marked significant milestones including:Training of 15 lecturers and over 503 students in Python and modeling, implementation of applied research projects, establishment of a computational mathematics laboratory and iInclusive training structure with attention to gender.

Looking ahead, the team plans to expand training opportunities to postgraduate students, publish research findings and develop a postgraduate curriculum in computational mathematics.

In five years, the project envisions becoming a leading national and regional hub for computational mathematics—recognized for its innovative STEM education, robust regional partnerships, and impactful contributions to public policies in agriculture, health, and environmental planning.  Success will be measured not only by academic achievements and research publications but also by the tangible ways the programme empowers communities and drives sustainable development across Mozambique and beyond.

Driving Innovation in Mozambique: Inside the IETUPUNGUE Project at UniPúnguè

Posted on by Janet Otieno

As the sun rose over the misty hills of Chimoio in central Mozambique, our delegation from The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) felt a sense of eager anticipation. We were on a mission to witness firsthand the progress of the PASET-Rsif/MozSkills-supported IETUPUNGUE Project at Universidade Púnguè (UniPúnguè)—and what we found was truly inspiring.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that something powerful is unfolding here. Professor Lubacha Zilhão, the IETUPUNGUE Project Coordinator, walked us through the initiative’s milestones—each one a step toward transforming how innovation, technology transfer, and intellectual property are nurtured in Mozambican universities.

Equally memorable was the warm welcome from UniPúnguè’s leadership. The Rector, Prof Emília Afonso Nhalevilo expressed deep appreciation for the collaboration with icipe under the PASET-Rsif/MozSkills project, emphasizing the importance of such partnerships in strengthening the university’s capacity and regional influence. Her message was clear: continued collaboration is not just welcome—it’s essential for sustaining momentum.

Unipungue Rector Professor Emília Nhalevilo receiving memorabilia from Ms Cynthia Orango Rsif Research and Innovation Grant Officer
Unipungue Rector Prof Emília Afonso Nhalevilo receiving memorabilia from Ms Cynthia Orang’o Rsif Research and Innovation Grant Officer.

Another striking moment for me was visiting the university’s new Innovation Incubator Unit. Still fresh with possibility, the space is more than a building—it’s a commitment to empowering students, faculty, and communities to create real-world solutions. You could feel the energy of potential in the air.

UniPúnguè Innovation Incubator Unit
The newly established UniPúnguè Innovation Incubator Unit. Photo/ Janet Otieno

This visit wasn’t just an evaluation—it was a chance to see how far vision and collaboration can go. Through Rsif and MozSkills, UniPúnguè isn’t just growing—it’s becoming a beacon of innovation for the region.

We also had the chance to speak directly with Prof Zilhão about the project’s journey, challenges, and what lies ahead and here is what she had to say;

Q: What motivated the launch of this project, and why is it important for Mozambique and the region?

A: The launch of this project was driven by the need to strengthen the innovation capacity of the UniPúnguè university community (faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and students) to increase innovations and enable patenting. Many innovative projects were forgotten due to a lack of awareness about innovation and technology transfer within our university. This project is important for the country because, through innovation, Mozambique can stand out globally and become more competitive.

Q: How is this project contributing to the development of policies at the University?
A: The project has greatly benefited the university by enabling the development of two key policies to promote innovation: the Innovation and Technology Transfer Policy and the Intellectual Property Protection Policy.

The icipe delegation flanked by IETUPUNGUE team visiting one of the projects
The icipe delegation flanked by IETUPUNGUE team visiting one of the projects at the institution’s agricultural field.

Q: How does the project align with Mozambique’s development goals, and how will it benefit the community or public policymakers?

A: Mozambique’s National Development Strategy (ENDE) 2025-2044 highlights technological innovation as a key pillar for economic growth and development. The same document notes that reliance on sectors like agriculture and extractive industries has limited economic diversification, making the country vulnerable to external shocks, with limited economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness. This weakness in innovation underscores the need for projects like this to boost innovation in universities and communities.
Additionally, innovation and entrepreneurship are priorities in Mozambique’s current National Education System. For instance, the Secondary Education Curriculum Plan (2022) states that by the end of the first cycle of secondary education, students should be entrepreneurial, creative, critical, and self-confident in performing tasks or solving problems, both in and out of school—skills that align with the ability to innovate. In the medium term, UniPúnguè can train schools to strengthen these competencies.

IETUPUNGUE team and icipe's team holding a discussion about the progress of the project. icipe's delegation was led by Dr Michael M. Kidoido, Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist
IETUPUNGUE team and icipe’s team holding a discussion about the progress of the project. icipe’s delegation was led by Dr Michael M. Kidoido, Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist (second right)

Q: What milestones have been achieved so far, and where do you see this project in the coming years?

A: We have developed two policies: the Innovation and Technology Transfer Policy and the Intellectual Property Protection Policy.

  • We have trained faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and students on innovation and technology transfer.
  • We are currently forming partnerships with institutions experienced in innovation, technology transfer, and intellectual property protection, such as the Pedro Nunes Institute at the University of Coimbra and the European Patent Office (EPO).
  • We recently established a business incubator to drive innovation at the university.
  • We are preparing for the first University Innovation Fair on September 23, which will include not only university students but also participants from other universities, schools, companies, and individuals.
    We hope that, through the partnerships we are building, the technology transfer office will become a national reference.

Q: What makes the support from Rsif valuable for your institution?
A: The support from Rsif is valuable because:

  • It has awakened the university to the need to promote innovation.
  • It has supported the promotion and strengthening of research and innovation capacity, recognition of scientific and technological output, and the development of institutional policies and strategies for technology transfer and intellectual property protection.
  • It has increased the need to transfer knowledge generated at the university for the benefit of communities.
  • It has facilitated the creation of national and international partnerships related to technology transfer and intellectual property protection.

 

Mozambique universities commit to improving their intellectual property management practices

Posted on by Janet Otieno

Scientists and experts from six Mozambique universities and research organisations came together in a three-day workshop on 22-24 April in Maputo to develop action plans for intellectual property (IP) management in Mozambican higher education institutions. The workshop brought together 32 participants including 12 women from universities and research institutes across the country, including a team from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), which manages the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif).

An effective IP management is a critical part of an innovation system. IP are the creations of the mind, which are protected through patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Universities and research institutes can license their IP to private companies, which put them to industrial or commercial use. In this way, universities contribute to growth and development, when the out put of their research is put to use in the production of goods and services.

In her opening remarks, Dr Sheila Canda, Director of Mozambique’s Intellectual Property Institute stressed the importance of IP protection for national development. “The key role of the institute in supporting researchers is to protect novel ideas from their research work.  Researchers need to embrace a culture of protecting their intellectual assets which will ultimately increase the number of protection rights in the form of patents, trademarks etc from higher education institution.”

Dr Fernando dos Santos, an IP expert who facilitated the workshop said, “There are several strategies that institutions can adopt to promote innovation and technology transfer within higher education and research centres across the country. However, for these strategies to be effective, it is critical to strengthen the linkages between innovation, technology transfer, and intellectual property management. This integration is key to fostering a strong culture of entrepreneurship among students and faculty in Mozambican institutions.”

Ms Cynthia Orangó, the Research and Innovation grants officer of Rsif underscored the role of universities in driving economic transformation through innovation. She said, “There is a need to co-create actionable, context-specific plans that will strengthen research translation, IP protection, and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions across Mozambique.”

Key sessions featured insights from Prof Manuel Rebelo who talked about Mozambique’s innovation policy landscape. Other presentations were on IP registration processes, and experiences from universities and research centres, including Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), among others. Panel discussions highlighted lessons in developing effective IP policies to foster university-industry linkages.

By the end of the workshop, all participating institutions had drafted tailored action plans to improve their innovation ecosystems, marking a critical step toward advancing research commercialization by Mozambique’s universities and research organisations.

Egas Armando, Rsif Scholar and faculty member at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, shares insights on how Business Incubation Centres and Technology Transfer Offices are helping universities turn ideas into real-world impact at the workshop.
Egas Armando, Rsif Scholar and faculty member at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, shares insights on how Business Incubation Centres and Technology Transfer Offices are helping universities turn ideas into real-world impact at the workshop.

The workshop was organised with the theme, “strengthening university innovation ecosystem and support for intellectual property management practices”, and specifically targeted Mozambique universities and research organisations that are benefiting from Rsif/ MozSkills project’s Institutional Innovation Capacity Building Program (ICBP).

Rsif s a flagship initiative of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). It is implemented by icipe as the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) since August 2018. Rsif’s development objective is to strengthen the institutional capacity for quality doctoral training, research, and innovation in transformative technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Mozambique is a member of the PASET. It contributes to the Rsif through its Improvement for Skills Development (MozSkills) project. Through this contribution, Mozambique is supporting 40 PhD scholars (32 Mozambican) and 14 research and innovation projects across eight Mozambican higher education institutions and one research centre are being supported.

 

 

Shaping the Future: Experts Unite in Mozambique to Strengthen PhD Programmes for Food Security and Climate Action

Posted on by Janet Otieno

Maputo, Mozambique – A pivotal symposium was recently held at the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, to address the urgent need to strengthen PhD programmes and research collaborations aimed at tackling escalating food insecurity exacerbated by climate change.

The event which was organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) – the Regional Coordination Unit for the Africa Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (Rsif) – in collaboration with UEM’s African Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Nutrition, brought together leading scholars, researchers and policy makers across Africa.

Themed “Building Resilient Agrifood Systems and Climate Action in Mozambique,” the symposium convened academics and researchers from Mozambique and Rsif African Host Universities (AHUs) with PhD programmes in food security  – Sokoine University of Agriculture ( Tanzania), University of Ghana (Ghana), Makerere University (Uganda), and Haramaya University (Ethiopia) – to collectively share climate mitigation and adaptation strategies to improve food production, pest control, and environmental sustainability. Rsif has enrolled 282 PhD students since 2018 in 15 AHUs, with  33.69 % undertaking PhD studies in food security and climate change.

With a report from Food and Agriculture Organisation raising a red flag that over 282 million people across Africa are facing food insecurity, worsened by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives like Rsif play an important role in building resilient agrifood systems and addressing Africa’s skills gap in agriculture and climate science.

Keynote Insights and Future Directions

Dr. Rachida Mamade, Director of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, highlighted that Mozambique’s Government, through the MozSkills project, has pledged substantial resources to PhD training and innovation in agriculture, aiming to foster a skilled workforce capable of driving agricultural transformation.

Dr. Mamade remarked, “The support from Rsif and MozSkills is pivotal in creating sustainable solutions for Mozambique’s future.”

The symposium showcased UEM’s recent PhD programmes, focusing on pest management, microbial contamination in crops, and nutritional enhancements in soybeans and maize – all important for strengthening Mozambique’s agricultural resilience which in turn would boost food security for the citizenry.

On her part, Dr Ana Menezes, from The World Bank hailed the efforts of Rsif and the MozSkills project in advancing doctoral training and research capacity in Mozambique.

“The collaboration between Rsif African Host Universities and Mozambican institutions like the University Eduardo Mondlane is critical for addressing pressing challenges in food security and climate resilience. By working together, we can build stronger research ecosystems that not only benefit Mozambique but also contribute to sustainable development across Africa,”  Dr Menezes said.

Dr Julius Ecuru, Manager, Research and Innovation Coordination Units at icipe, underscored the crucial role of such partnerships in equipping students with the skills needed to become independent scientists who contribute to their countries’ development. “With access to top facilities and diverse academic cultures, our students are globally competitive and can make significant contributions upon returning home,” Dr Ecuru stated.

The participants at the symposium also pointed out critical challenges in PhD training, including delayed graduation due to weak student- supervisor relationships, weak mentorship, low employability of PhD graduates and few post-doctoral programmes.

In tackling the challenges mentioned, the symposium participants proposed various recommendations to establish capacity building workshops, continuous mile stone tracking for the purpose of accountability and supervisor seminars to improve PhD completion timeline.

Group discussions during the symposium.

Besides a proposal to buttress university incubation centres to help PhD students commercialize their research, employers were also urged to recognize the diverse skillset PhD graduates have.  Furthermore, participants highlighted the need for dedicated resources to establish postdoctoral and mentorship programmes and emphasized the importance of enhancing student and faculty mobility through international research collaborations.

The symposium discussed and agreed to work together to address challenges in fostering research collaboration, particularly poor research infrastructure and the weak link between research and industry needs. Universities were urged to allocate more funds to improve research facilities and leverage development grants to procure essential equipment. It was recommended that PhD programmes aim to solve real-world industry problems, with curricula updated to align with industry demands. Strengthening partnerships with industry and technical vocational institutes (TVETs) was also emphasized to enhance mentorship and provide PhD students with access to specialised resources and equipment.

Looking Ahead

The symposium set a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Rsif AHUs and UEM, aiming to grow this into a formidable network of African universities with globally recognised PhD programmes in agricultural and food systems and climate action.

The event provided a clear roadmap for strengthening doctoral training and promoting regional cooperation to build resilient agrifood systems in the face of growing climate adversity.

 

 

Moçambique compromete-se a fortalecer a capacidade de traduzir os resultados da investigação em utilizações prácticas para a diversificação económica.

Posted on by RSIF PASET

4 de Dezembro de 2023: O Centro Internacional de Fisiologia e Ecologia de Insectos (icipe) (www.icipe.org), juntamente com o Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior da República de Moçambique, organizaram um Fórum para discutir o progresso da implementação de projectos de investigação e inovação de 6 a 9 de dezembro de 2023 em Vilankulo, Moçambique. Os projectos são financiados pelo projecto de Melhoria do Desenvolvimento de Competências em Moçambique (MozSkills), apoiado pelo Banco Mundial, através do qual Moçambique está a contribuir com 6 milhões de dólares para o Fundo Regional de Bolsas de Estudo e Inovação (Rsif) da Parceria para Competências em Ciências Aplicadas, Engenharia e Tecnologia (PASET) (www.paset-rsif.org). Esta contribuição destina-se à formação de estudantes de doutoramento moçambicanos e a projectos de investigação e inovação liderados por universidades e instituições de investigação moçambicanas. O icipe é a Unidade de Coordenação Regional do Rsif. O Fórum centrar-se-á nas medidas que estão a ser tomadas para desenvolver capacidades em Moçambique para traduzir os resultados da investigação em utilizações prácticas para a diversificação económica.

Moçambique, com uma população de 33 milhões de pessoas (2023) e um crescimento do PIB de 4,8% (2023), de acordo com o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento, é uma das economias com crescimento mais rápido na África Subsariana. As indústrias extractivas e a agricultura são as que mais contribuem para o PIB de Moçambique. Com os seus abundantes recursos naturais, incluindo terras aráveis, água, energia e recursos minerais, Moçambique tem potencial para diversificar a sua economia. Mas transformar este potencial em realidade requer, entre outros, uma massa crítica de mão-de-obra cientificamente qualificada no mercado de trabalho. O aumento do investimento no ensino superior produz as competências e conhecimentos necessários para a diversificação económica. Até à data, 0,3% do PIB de Moçambique é gasto em investigação e desenvolvimento, o que é ainda inferior ao 1% do PIB recomendado pela União Africana; e existem apenas 43 investigadores (equivalente a tempo inteiro) por milhão de habitantes.

Para melhorar a sua base de competências científicas, excelência em investigação e inovação, Moçambique, através do Projecto MozSkills, juntou-se a outros oito países africanos do Rsif/PASET em 2021. Os oito países que também contribuem para o Rsif/PASET são o Benim, Burkina Faso, Costa do Marfim, Gana, Quénia, Nigéria, Ruanda e Senegal. O Rsif oferece a Moçambique a oportunidade de formar doutorados de alta qualidade através do intercâmbio académico intra-africano e de parcerias internacionais para formação de doutorados de classe mundial. Proporciona também uma rede académica e de investigação mais alargada através de estágios de investigação numa instituição avançada para exposição a tecnologias de ponta e ligação a redes de investigação globais, bem como integração regional em África através de centros de excelência e ecossistemas de inovação.

O Fórum reúne equipas de projecto moçambicanas, investigadores, parceiros colaboradores, líderes de instituições de implementação (reitores/directores), oradores principais, funcionários do governo, o Banco Mundial e o icipe, para partilhar experiências e discutir estratégias para melhorar a capacidade de traduzir os resultados da investigação em utilizações prácticas.

Com este compromisso, Moçambique está no caminho certo para construir instituições fortes e para formar futuros líderes científicos que tornarão possível a concretização da sua visão de crescimento e desenvolvimento orientados para a ciência e tecnologia.

Mozambique commits to building capacity for translating research outputs into practical uses for economic diversification.

Posted on by RSIF PASET

4 December 2023: The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) (www.icipe.org), together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Mozambique, have organized a Forum to discuss implementation progress of research and innovation projects on 6-9 December 2023 in Vilankulo, Mozambique. The projects are funded by the World Bank supported Improvement of Skills Development in Mozambique (MozSkills) project through which Mozambique is contributing US$ 6 million to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) (www.paset-rsif.org). This contribution is towards training Mozambican PhD students and for research and innovation projects led by Mozambican universities and research institutions. icipe is the Regional Coordination Unit of the Rsif. The Forum will focus on measures being taken to build capacity within Mozambique for translating research outputs into practical uses for economic diversification.

Mozambique, with a population of 33 million people (2023) and GDP growth of 4.8% (2023) according to the African Development Bank, is one of the fastest growing economies in Sub Saharan Africa. Extractives and agriculture contribute the highest to the GDP of Mozambique. With its abundant natural resources, including arable land, water, energy and mineral resources, Mozambique has potential to diversify its economy. But turning this potential into reality requires, among others, a critical mass of scientifically skilled workforce in the labour market. Increasing investment in higher education produces the necessary skills and knowledge for economic diversification. So far, 0.3% of Mozambique’s GDP is spent on research and development, which is still lower than the 1% of GDP recommended by the African Union; and there are only 43 researchers (full time equivalent) per million inhabitants.

To improve its scientific skills base, research excellence and innovation, Mozambique, through the MozSkills Project, joined eight other African countries of the Rsif/PASET in 2021. The eight countries also contributing to the Rsif/PASET are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Senegal. Rsif offers Mozambique the opportunity to train high quality PhDs through intra-Africa academic exchange and international partnerships for world-class doctoral training. It also provides a wider academic and research network through research placements at an advanced institution for exposure to cutting-edge technologies and connecting with global research networks, as well as regional integration within Africa through centers of excellence and innovation ecosystems.

The Forum brings together Mozambican project teams researchers, collaborating partners, leaders of implementing institutions (rectors / directors), keynote speakers, government officials, the World Bank and icipe, to share experiences and discuss strategies for improving capacity for translating research outputs into practical uses.

With such a commitment, Mozambique is on the right track of building strong institutions and nurturing future science leaders who will make it possible to realise its vision of a science and technology-led growth and development.