The IRST was created
in 1989 to enhance scientific research and promote
new technologies for the develop of the country.
After 13 years of operation, what have been the
major achievements of the institute?
The Institute was replaced in 1989 another research
institute called INRS. The main mission of the
newly created Institute was to actively participate
in the socio-economic development of the country,
especially in the following sectors:
-Promotion of traditional medicine that is currently
used by almost 80% of our population and pharmacopoeia;
-find solutions to create new sources of energy.
As in most African countries, our population mainly
lives in rural areas and have recourse to wood
and biomass for their needs in energy. The main
consequence is the degradation of the environment
and a reducing soil fertility. So, our mission
is to focus on new energies, mainly renewable
energies such as the thermic use solar energy,
the bio-methanisation.
-Also, we have a role in promoting our culture,
our language with the purpose of enhancing national
unity and reconciliation.
-Of course, it is our duty to promote the results
of our research and innovations and apply them
to the most suitable areas. As well as support
the transfer of technologies aiming at developing
rural areas.
During the war in 1994, the Institute incurred
a great number of destructions and losses in terms
of equipment and human resources. Everything had
to be reconstructed. First, we recruited some
new staff, second we rehabilitated our facilities,
bought laboratory equipment and third, we had
to intensify our relations with foreign institutions
and strengthen our cross-border co-operation.
Can you tell us more about the people working
for the institute? How did you manage to renew
your staff after the war?
We have 32 searchers. Our searchers are Rwandan,
coming from various fields related to science
and research, but most of them are actually quite
young and come from the National University of
Rwanda in Butare?
How did you proceed when it came to rehabilitate
your facilities?
The government provided most of the funds that
enabled us to restart our activities. First, we
rehabilitated the equipment that could be repaired.
Second, regarding the equipment that had to be
renewed, we managed acquire some of it through
our relations with foreign institutions.
What type our relations do have with national
and foreign institutes?
First, we co-operate with the National University
of Rwanda in terms of exchanging our teaching
staff. We have been working with the KIST since
it was created in 1997.
At the international level, we have strong relationship
with institutes and universities from Germany
and especially from Rhineland's Palatinate such
as the university of Mayence. We send our searchers
over there so that they can upgrade their skills
or complete their Ph.D.
Besides, we are continuously searching for new
partnerships. We are in contact with a few institutions
such as the universities of Nottingham in Great
Britain, Stuttgart in Germany, Louvin in Belgium
and some others we wish to develop further collaboration
with.
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Currently, what are your priority research
programs?
Regarding the traditional medicine, one of our
priorities is the preservation of medicinal plants
through the creation of botanical gardens, which
involves significant studies in botanics and on
the possibility to transfer them from their natural
ecosystem to an artificial environment in order
to use them for medicinal purposes. Within this
framework, we have a program for the promotion
of medications stemming from those plants and
that can be used against infectious and non-infectious
illnesses, focusing on children illnesses. But
those program need to be associated with the implementation
of suitable technologies, which is our main focus.
Regarding the provision of energy, we have an
"energy center" where we develop projects
related to the electrification of rural areas.
One of our main projects is the biomass transformation:
through the bio-methanisation, we produce some
biogas that can be used for generation of electricity.
We now focus on the production of new fertilizers
that could be used in the agricultural sector.
Some tests have been carried out and at this level
we collaborate closely with a Belgium agronomic
university that helps us with the analysis of
soils. Within this research program, we also make
use of human excrements available in hospitals,
prisons, schools to produce gas.
Within our research center for human resources,
we have a project related to the use of suitable
technologies for the teaching of new sciences.
Observation and experiments are essential to the
work of our human resources.
Also, besides our commitment to promoting our
culture, our history and our language, we have
a program related to socio-economic development
in rural areas based on our cultural patrimony.
Talking about energy production, it seems
that an Israelian company has the project to produce
methane gas from Lake Kivu. Do you plan to play
a role in this project?
The IRST has already carried out feasibility
studies and research works in collaboration with
the university of Savoie in France on the extraction
of this bio-gas. A few companies have shown interest
in producing this biogas. However, at some point,
those companies will need the collaboration from
research institutes like ours in order to evaluate
the economic impact of such production. Also,
we can play a significant role in the process
of separating carbon dioxide from methane gas.
At various levels, our institute can provide services
to foreign investors seeking to produce gas from
Lake Kivu.
On a general level, our research works have an
interest if we manage to collaborate to some extent
with the private sector. Of course, one of our
objectives is to create the interest for private
companies in having recourse to our services.
Our products must enable the private sector to
become more efficient. Today, we have developed
some expertise in few fields but need the presence
of private investors to develop it on a larger
scale.
Looking further in the future, what would be
your personal ambition in terms of the objectives
you would like the institute to reach over the
next ten years?
I would like this institute to develop applied
research on the field. It is important that the
results of our research do not remain on shelves
but be used to serve the population, that it be
visible, especially for those living in rural
areas. Our main focus is to solve the problems
related to the lack of energy and the lack of
proper medicine.
You mentioned earlier that you studied in Belgium.
Can you tell us what been your main professional
achievement until now?
I studied sciences at the catholic university
of Louvin where I became research assistant. Then,
I worked as a professor in Zaire. In 1995, I came
to Rwanda and became professor at the National
University of Rwanda. And since then I have been
managing the IRST. Currently, I am also a member
of the Belgium Association of chemistry teachers,
a member of the Third World Academy of Sciences
NB : Winne shall not be responsible for unedited
transcriptions
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RWANDA
