Republic of Mauritius- Launching of MCCI Technology Transfer Platform

This project will enable the establishment of an assistance centre in the field of intellectual property at the MCCI as well as provide advice and technical support to businesses in the field of innovation and intellectual property, including the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property assets.

In his address, Minister Bodha recalled that since 2015, Government has introduced a series of incentives and measures with the view to promote innovation, research and development adding that it is part of the primary focus of Government Vision 2030 to make Mauritius a high-income country.

He stated that this project comes at an opportune time after the adoption of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council earlier this year, which focuses on promoting and fully supporting innovation, research and development. He added that the project will enable the MCCI to provide advice and technical expertise in the area of intellectual property rights and technology transfers to its members and the business community as a whole as well as contribute towards the transformation of Mauritius into an innovation-driven economy, and help attract quality and technology intensive investment.

Furthermore, Mr Bodha stated that the Technology Transfer Platform will assist the MCCI in encouraging technology transfer agreements between Mauritian and EU companies. This platform will also help to improve the business and investment climate in Mauritius, he said.

Also present on this occasion, the Ambassador of the EU to Mauritius, Ms Marjaana Sall, said that the project is a proof that the EU partnership is geared towards the modernisation of Mauritius’ socioeconomic development. The MCCI Technology Transfer Platform will foster research, development and innovation in the country with the view to help create new industries in the field of Biotechnology, Ocean Economy, Robotics Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. It will also assist existing industries in their efforts to strengthen their capacity and competitiveness, she added.

The private sector, she recalled, plays a key role in the economic development and prosperity of a country as a driver of inclusive growth and job creation. According to her, the EU and its Member States are key players in supporting local private sector development in their partner countries as the private sector is ideally placed to improve the lives of the poor and deliver on the promise of sustainable and socially inclusive economic development.

For his part, the MCCI president, Mr Marday Venkatasamy, highlighted that the launching of this platform is a step for Mauritius to rapidly move towards a high-income innovation led model of development that will enable Mauritius to position itself as a reference in the Indian Ocean Industrial Property and Transfer of Technology horizon.