SPEECH - International
Conference on Nano Materials 2014 (ICNM 2014)
Sugar
Beach, Flic-en-Flac at 8.00 a.m
1
– 5 Sept 2014
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
First
of all, let me welcome you all and in particular the 42 participants from
overseas. I am told 16 countries are represented here.
I
would like to commend the organisersfor taking the initiative to organise this
meeting: the Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research in Mauritius and
the EcoleNationaleSuperieure de Chimie de Montpellier through Dr Michel Wong
Chi Man.
Dr
Wong Chi Man was bornin Mauritius and completed his secondary studies here. I
wish to express my thanks to him for sharing with us his experience after a
successful career in France. We thank you all, Ladies and Gentlemen for coming
from Europe, Japan, USA and many other places to share your research findings
in this emerging field of nanotechnology.
I
am informed that the objectives of this conference are to:
· To
take stock of research in the field of nanotechnology with regards to energy,
environment and health applications. I am particularly satisfied that those
topics are in line with needs of Mauritius.
·
To consolidate networking in the
field of nanotechnology research and promoting north-south research
collaboration.
· To
initiate the establishment of an integrated interdisciplinary education and
training program in nanotechnology for Mauritius and the region;
These
are what we would like to see not only in nanotechnology but also in other
areas.
The
Government of Mauritius has recognised that investment in scientific and
engineering research now provides the means by which an economic upturn can be
created and sustained in the medium to long term. In promoting Mauritius as a
sustainable island (Maurice Ile Durable), the Government has given a strong direction
on how to address challenges ahead
namely : energy-climate-environmental issues; food security and the sustainable
exploitation of our natural and agricultural resources; health issues;
challenges of maintaining competitiveness in traditional sectors (sugar,
marine, textile, light industries) and the need to encourage the emergence of
new high-tech industries (biotechnology, clinical research, pharmaceuticals,
software applications). It is fully recognized that Science, Research and
Technology will underpin all these challenges.
The Ministry of Tertiary Education,
Science, Research and Technology was created in 2010 precisely to address those
challenges, a sine-qua-non for the emergence of an innovation-driven economy. Over
the past four years, my Ministry has spared no effort to promote world class
research, in areas of strategic importance and strength for the mauritian
economy.
A number of measures and incentives
have been put in place to encourage investment in research and innovation. To
cite a few, we have established since 2011 the best Mauritian scientist award,
an award which recognizes research excellence.
We have instituted National Research
Chair positions and presently have two of them.
We have regular business angels
meetings to foster innovative projects. This year we have set up a
Collaborative Research Innovation Grant to enable enterprises develop research
and innovation through joint ventures with our researchers.
We are putting up a number of specialized
research centres throughout the country. This Conference comes at a very
opportune time as we laid the foundation stone only last week of a building
which will house a Centre for Nanotechnology.
Mauritius is small country and in
spite of all our commitments and efforts, we cannot match the billions that
others devote to research. Given our limited resources, we have to concentrate
them where it counts. Universities and public research institutions have to
figure out what their mission is, set priorities, and play to their strengths.
Research funding has to be tied to research performance. The equation is so to
say a simple one: we need to do better with less.
We need research in
the field of nanotechnology to address issues such as sustainable energy
production, environmental monitoring and remediation, water purification and
desalination, diagnostics and therapies and probably many others.
It is a matter of pride for us that
researchers at the CBBR are doing well in the area of nanomedicine as you will
note from the presentations and posters during this meeting. I note also with
great satisfaction that a session has been devoted to educational aspects of
nanotechnology. I have myself been pushing for the establishment of an
undergraduate Nanotechnology course which should start shortly. We rely on your
guidance and request your support to consolidate this first programme. Perhaps
we can also think of a Postgraduate programme with your support.
To
conclude I would like to reiterate that we need to grow research, to invest in
capacity building, to reinforce networks, to join hands with the private
sector. This Conference will no doubt add to our efforts in the emergence of
nanotechnology in Mauritius both at the research level and industrial development
that could be beneficial to pour economy.
With
these words, Ladies and Gentlemen, I declare this International Conference on
NanoMaterials open and I hope you enjoy the presentations and discussions. I am
informed an excursion has been organized on Wednesday which will take you
through our tea route. I hope you enjoy it as well and wish you all a very
pleasant stay in Mauritius.
Hon. Dr Rajeshwar Jeetah Minister for Tertiary Education, Science,
Research and Technology
