The Government's vision is to "develop a competitive, innovative, and equitable Higher Education and Research System, a driving force for the emergence of Côte d'Ivoire."

This vision relies, in terms of scientific research, on major intervention axes which are:

• strengthening the governance of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Research Institutions;
• enhancing the Research and Innovation framework;
• developing a relevant and quality research offer;
• increasing funding for Research and Innovation;
• developing partnerships between Research Institutions and socio-economic sectors; and
• promoting Research and Innovation as well as disseminating and valorizing its results.

To achieve this objective, several actors work in perfect synergy, notably the Ministry responsible for Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) and Research Centers and Institutes. In 2023, the scientific research framework includes 73 research centers and institutes whose activities are supported by 405 researchers. These include, among others, the National Computing Center of Côte d'Ivoire (CNCCI), the Oceanographic Research Center (CRO), the National Floristic Center (CNF), the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), and the Pasteur Institute of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI).

Regarding the MESRS, in terms of Scientific Research, its assigned mission is outlined as follows:

• promoting, guiding, valorizing, and disseminating Research;
• promoting technological innovation and technology transfer;
• developing international cooperation in Scientific, Technological, and Technical Research;
• conserving and protecting the National Scientific Heritage.

As for the Research Centers and Institutes, their purpose is to develop and implement research programs/projects related to the needs of communities and the economic sectors of the country.

The main activities of the Research Centers and Institutes are organized around 08 Competence Poles (See table below) responsible for the development and implementation of National Research Programs (PNR).

Research and Innovation Competence Poles

Source: General Directorate of Research and Innovation (DGRI), Presentation Manual of the Competence Poles

Since 2011, the Government has undertaken significant actions to improve the research and innovation offer, notably the restructuring of research, the development of community resources (the National Computing Center and the National Analysis Center), the rehabilitation and equipping of research centers and institutes (IPCI, CRO, CRE, CNRA, etc.), and the strengthening of funding for research and innovation through the creation of the Fund for Science, Technology, and Innovation (FONSTI).

As part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (PND) 2021-2025 and the Sectoral Education-Training Plan (PSE) 2016-2025 and the National Research Policy, the main actions of the Higher Education and Scientific Research Sub-Sector to be implemented are as follows:

• strengthening the legal, institutional, and management framework of the ESRS;
• enhancing the Research and Innovation framework and capacities;
• developing community resources;
• implementing National Research Programs;
• increasing funding for Research and Innovation;
• strengthening the partnership framework with socio-economic sectors;
• disseminating and valorizing the results of Research and Innovation.

Thus, in 2023, the rehabilitation and equipping of research centers and institutes were recorded, which allowed for the strengthening of their technical and scientific capacities. The works concerned:

• the completion of the rehabilitation and equipping of the buildings of the LAMTO ecology station;
• the rehabilitation and equipping of the National Floristic Center, including two water basins, a shade house, tree labeling, and a building B;
• the continuation of the rehabilitation and equipping of the buildings of the LAMTO geophysical station;
• the continuation of the rehabilitation and equipping of the buildings of the Layo station of the Oceanological Research Center (CRO);
• the continuation of the rehabilitation and equipping of the buildings of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Center (CEMV) branch in Abidjan;
• the continuation of the construction and equipping of the P3 and P4 laboratories of the Pasteur Institute of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI);
• the maintenance of the equipment of the National Computing Center of Côte d'Ivoire (CNCCI).