Research Grants available from the MRC

1. Research Grants available from the MRC Mauritius Research Council 18th July 2007

2. Layout of the presentation • Introduction to the Council and its activities • An overview of the MRC research grant schemes

3. 1. Introduction to the Council Vision • To be the driving force behind research for national development Mission • Promoting and pioneering research for sustainable development to enhance the quality of life of the people of Mauritius

4. Objectives (MRC Act, 1992) • Foster, promote and coordinate research and development in all spheres of scientific, technological, social and economic activities. • Advise the Government on all matters concerning scientific and technological policies. • Lay guidelines for, and initiate the formulation of research and development policies on a national basis. • Encourage commercial utilisation of research and development results in the national interest.

5. Research Priority Areas • Ocean Technology and Marine Resources • Waste Management and Recycling • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy • Biomedical and Biotechnology • Science and Technology Education

6. 2. MRC Research Grant Schemes • Unsolicited Research Grant Scheme (1993) • Solicited Research Grant Scheme (1998) • Private Sector Collaborative R.G.S (1999) • Small Scale Research Grant Scheme (2000) • Public Sector Collaborative R.G.S (March 2005) • MRC Postgraduate Award (September 2005)

7. Unsolicited R.G.S • Bottom-up approach • Individuals/team submit through their provider institution • Administrative screening • Peer review [intellectual merit, relevance to national priority, manageability, potential for application & capacity building] • Project Management Committee

8. Solicited R.G.S • Top Down • MRC defines research topic • Institutions, researchers bid to conduct the research project • OR MRC conducts the research in-house

9. Private Sector Collaborative R.G.S • Take research beyond the walls of academia • Joint Private sector & academia submission • 3 Phases –feasibility, refinement, commercial application • PI: scientific, technical & commercial merit • PII: concept refinement & continue research effort • PIII: pursue commercial application

10. Public Sector Collaborative R.G.S • Initiative jointly funded by the MoCS & MRC • Aimed at researchers and research institutions in the public sector • promotion of research to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector • Multidisciplinary, inter-institutional or inter-departmental • Flexitime • Performance & Quality Management • Leadership & Motivation • Human Resource Management

11. MRC Postgraduate Award • Aimed at encouraging individuals already in employment to undertake part-time research, leading to the award of MPhil or PhD • Awards will focus on project proposals falling within the priority research themes

12. Small Scale R.G.S • Graduates, teachers, medical staff, NGOs, personnel of public sector…etc • Submission submitted with a recognised institutions e.g UoM. • Booklet on small scale research

13. Allocation of Funds by Schemes

14. Distribution of Funds

15. Our Research Partners

16. Initiatives of the Council • Steering committee on biomedical research • Awareness workshop on traditional medicine • Booklet on type II diabetes in Mauritius • Guidelines on research ethics and conduct of research • Code of care and responsibility in the use of animals in research • Ethical guidelines for biomedical research involving human subjects

17. www.mrc.org.mu mrc@intnet.mu