Heavy reliance on informal practice that may be favourable for innovation but does not lead to systemic
application.
Government science and technology policies and programmes having a larger impact on innovation
than activities and strategies in the private sector.
The dominance of externally controlled firms in high value sectors meaning that local enterprises have
less decision-making powers related to innovation.
Rwanda’s National STI Policy, which takes into account this context, has the principal objective of ‘Integrating
science, technology, scientific research and innovation in a framework that shall include capability building,
technical transfer initiatives and the promotion of innovation, in the context of issues facing Rwanda.’ The
specific objectives and strategies consist of:
Knowledge acquisition – reinforce science and technology teaching and resources at all levels of
education.
Knowledge creation – invest in training and development of international partnerships and equipping
research institutions.
Knowledge transfer – linking research and technology development to industry, economy and
community.
Innovation culture – establishing business enterprises centres and district innovation centres.
Efforts are already underway to implement this policy. In particular, the Centre for Innovation and Technology
Transfer (CITT) has been established, public expenditure for science laboratories increased, and programmes on
ICT introduced in universities. The government is also introducing and restructuring technical and vocational
education and training, and increasing enrolment and graduation from primary to higher levels of education. The
number of agricultural research centres are also planned to increase from five to eight by 2012 supported by
increasing numbers of researchers and technicians.
In order to alleviate the infrastructural challenges and support private sector development, the government has
prioritised transport, energy, habitat, ICT and meteorology. Finally, in collaboration with the World Bank, the
country has adopted a two-stage programme for knowledge transfer: needs assessments and action plans
followed by financing and implementing the action plan outlined in the needs assessments. The programme
focuses on priority areas, including agricultural productivity, geothermal energy and geosciences, appropriate
technology, food processing and food technology, clean drinking water and sanitation, and bio-fuels.
3. Vision, mission and objectives
3.1 Vision and mission of the Intellectual Property Policy
The vision of Rwanda’s Intellectual Property (IP) Policy is:
“An environment in which the Rwandan sectors of business, Government and culture, create ideas and
innovations that are protected in a way that ensures the greater prosperity of the Rwandan people, while
making optimal use of international technologies to promote growth and productivity for the whole Rwandan
nation.”
The mission of Rwanda’s Intellectual Property (IP) Policy is:
“To ensure that national IP laws, institutional practices and strategies in public research institutions and
industry are developed and implemented in a manner that contributes to building Rwanda’s technological base
and cultural industries and that advancements in science and technology benefit society.”
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