Institute of Scientific & Technological Research
Prof. Dr. Chrysologue Karangwa
Director General
Contact details: Tel: +250-530 280 / 395 Mobile: +250-08301324 Fax: +250-530 939 E-mail:irst2001@yahoo.fr
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
In 1947-48, an off print for the Institute for
Scientific Research in Central Africa (IRSAC)
was established in Butare, Rwanda under the trusteeship
of the Kingdom of Belgium. The main mission of
the institute, then called the Astrida Institute
(named in memory of the mother of King Baudoin
of Belgium), was therefore, the foundation of
the current Institute of Scientific Research and
Techonology (IRST).
After independence in 1964, the mandate of IRSAC
got terminated by the majority of Central African
countries. The former Astrida Institute was renamed
the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS).
This new institute was established under the law
of the Republic of Rwanda. However, a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Government
of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Belgium to cater for
the transitional phase of the newly established
institute. In 1989, the INRS became the Institute
of Scientific Research and Technology (IRST in French)..
The vision behind the establishment of this third
version of the Institute was to create an institution
that would be driven by the societal problems of
Rwanda rather than by what was considered as colonial
or neo-colonial interests. It was felt that Western
scholars to serve Western interests did social and
anthropological studies at the INRS. The social
and anthropology section of the former INRS was
considered as the handmaiden of colonialism and
it was seen to analyse and provide information toward
the effective control and exploitation of the Rwandan
society. Bill N°06/1989 of March 15, 1989 established
the IRST as well as its organizational structure.
MISSION
OF THE IRST
1) To undertake basic and applied research aimed
at addressing the real needs and priorities of
the country, especially in the areas of traditional
medicine, human sciences and energy
2) To contribute to the validation of research results
3) To promote appropriate technologies for the development
of the country
4) To contribute to the training of science and
technology personnel
5) To publish and disseminate research results
STRATEGIC
APPROACH
To achieve the aforementioned mission, the institute's
legal framework highlights the need to establish
three major research centers:
1) The research center for Energy
2) The research center for Human Sciences with emphasis
on Rwandan civilization and literature
3) The research center for traditional medicine
pharmacopoeia and essential oils
The institute's legal framework also made provision
for the major research centers to enter into collaboration
and partnership with the National University of
Rwanda and with other national and international
institutions for undertaking joint and collaborative
research activities.
The center was established in 1972 under the
aegis of the faculty of medicine before being
transferred to the newly established institute
in 1989. the center's main mission is to undertake
studies on traditional medicine in bid to promote
it.
One of the major breakthroughs of the center was
the introduction of biotechnology, a new orientation
taken on program 6. The rational for refocusing
the center's thrust on biotechnology is based on
the premise that 99% of the Rwandan populationis
living in rural areas. The center has already developed
appropriate technologies that could be easily transferred
to rural areas for the production of essential oils.
Furthermore, the transformation and valorisation
of agricultural bi-products could generate additional
income to the rural people.
PHARMACOPOEIA
CENTRE
MISSION
The main missions assigned to the Pharmacopoeia
are:
- The study and exploitation of traditional medicine
- The phytochimic and pharmacological research
of the Rwandan medicinal plants
- The production of the medicines from medicinal
plants and other products of economic interest
starting from local raw material
- The contribution of the drafting of the Rwandan
pharmacopoeia
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
- Development and promotion of traditional medicine
- Botanical and agronomic studies of the medicinal
flora
- Medicinal plants and infectious deseases
- Medicinal plants and non-infectious deseases
- Aromatic plants and essential oilsDevelopment
of technologies of production of medicines and
other products of economic interest based on vegetable
extracts
ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS
-Essential oils: techniques of extraction, use
in beauty care and conservation of the foodstuffs
- traditional Medicine:
o diarrhoeal diseases and amoebiases
o Skin diseases
o Hepatitises
o Ethnobotanic surveys on the Rwandan medicinal
flora
o Microbiological support with research in traditional
medicine
PRODUCTS AND MEDICINES MANUFACTURED
1) Syrup cough mixtures
Bantankor: Containing the extract of Plantago
lanceolata (Ikibatama)
Tussinkor: Based on oil of Eucalyptus and tincture
of stramonium (rwizinringa)
2) Syrup anti-spasmodic and antacid
Gfurina: Containing tincture of stramonium, thyme,
eucalyptus
3) Liquid solutions
Kanwalina: based on oil of Eucalytpus
Timitusilinga: based on tincture of stramonium,
thyme and Eucalytpus
4) Pomades
Calendular: Based on extract from Calendula officinalis
Tembatembe: Based on extract from Neorautanenia
mitis (igitembatembe)
Rusendina: Based on extract from Capscum frutescens
(urusenda)
5) other products
-Ethanol
-Fruits of Capscum frutescens (urusenda)
-Thyme herb teas, citronelle, rosemary and petals
of flowers of Calendula (soucis)
-Essential oils: oil of citronelle, cypress, geranium,
eucalyptus, etc.e
TRADITIONAL
MEDICINE PROMOTION
-Installation of a dispensary of traditional
medicine, under the supervision and the control
of a doctor and a nurse
-Organisation of seminars on traditional medicine
-Collaboration with the organisation tradipracticians
THE
ENERGY CENTRE
Background
· 1973
Creation of the Centre for Energy Studies and Applications
in Rwanda (abbreviated as CEAER)
Dr. Gérard SAUNIER
· Beginning of 1974
Elaboration of project to create the CEAER and submission
of project to the authorities of the National University
of Rwanda (UNR) and to the Government
· 25th May 1974
Unanimous support for the project given by the Faculty
of Sciences of the National University of Rwanda
· 28th May 1974
Creation of the CEAER within the University recommended
to the University Council
· 18th June 1974
Decision to create the Centre within the UNR
· 27th July 1974
Support of the Minister for National Education through
his letter No. 1304/2088 concerning steps undertaken
by the University Council
· 5th November 1974
Appointment of the Director (Gérard SAUNIER),
1st Director of the CEAER, by the Ministry of Planning,
including awarding of a grant provided for in the
development budget, Article 24110017.
· From 1974 to March 1989
CEAER functions independently from the UNR
· 15th March 1989
Creation of the Energy Centre (abbreviated as CE)
within the Scientific and Technological Research
Institute (IRST) by Law No. 06/1989 of 15th March
1989 in the Official Gazette No. 9 of 1st May 1989
2. MISSION OF THE CENTRE
2.1. Carry out applied and fundamental research
adapted towards the national Energy Requirements
2.2. Enhance the value of different natural resources
for Energy-oriented and agricultural purposes
2.3. Participate in environmental protection
2.4. Publicise the results of the research
3. RESEARCH PROGRAM
3.1. Energy-related and agricultural enhancement
of the Biomass
3.2. Solar energy applications
3.3. Appropriate technology
4. PROJECTS
4.1. Project I
4.1.1. Project title
Enhancement of Energy by biological means
4.1.2. Achievements
a) Mastery of a certain number of physico-chemical
parameters (temperature, PH, size of particles)
b) Perfecting of mechanisms for the purification
of biogas
c) Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the
components of biogas
Two publications
4.2. Project II
4.2.1. Project title
Agricultural enhancement of the mechanised substratum
(manufacturing of organic fertilisers)
A publication
· 4.2.2. Achievements
a) Identification of local products for the transformation/enhancement
of effluents
b) Characterisation and/or determination of nutritional
elements in each identified product
c) Preliminary trials for the manufacturing of fertiliser
d) Application of the fertiliser on certain crops
(potatoes, sweet potatoes and tomatoes)
4.3. Project III
4.3.1. Project Title
Enhancing the value of the biomass through thermo-chemical
means
4.3.2. Achievements
a) Construction of improved charcoal stoves
b) Perfecting of improved cooking stoves made from
saw-dust, wood shavings and rice husks
c) Perfecting of mixed cooking stoves that use biogas
or other alternative combustibles, adapted to accommodate
large cooking pots
d) Conception and construction of a pyrolysis device
e) Preliminary trials/experiments
4.4. Project IV
4.3.1. Project Title
Solar energy applications through thermal conversions
4.3.2. Achievements
a) Conception and construction of adapted devices
b) Experimentation and functioning of devised mechanisms
4.5. Project V
4.5.1. Project title
Energy applications through photo-voltaic conversions
4.5.2. Achievements
a) Supply of basic photovoltaic material
b) Experimenting on certain basic electric photo-voltaic
material
c) Calculation of dimensions for pilot photo-voltaic
installations (KANSI, RUNYINYA, and MBAZI)
4.6. Project VI
4.6.1.Project title
Appropriate Technology
4.6.2. Achievements
a) Teacher training kits for the teaching of Physics
in Secondary School A' Level