Background

The issue of access to new technologies of energy, water and agriculture production, crucial to the social and economic development of Cape Verde, raises the question of the high initial costs of the technology and their financial and technical procurement.

It seems to be necessary to develop endogenous revenue generating decentralized activities within the rural and urban population, such as tourism and fisheries. Through associative and cooperative mechanisms, those revenues will be used to satisfy the population needs in technology acquisition and maintenance.

The municipalities have to implement efficient technical assistance and training facilities with appropriate geminating with municipalities abroad.

From 1991 to 1994 the Directorate of Planning of the Ministry of Economic Co-ordination developed a United Nations Pilot Project on S&T endogenous capacity building. Several studies were published on the subject and three Round Tables on S&T for the development of Cape Verde were organized. Consequently the Third National Development Plan included a chapter on the subject. A final document (Action Plan) was presented on the Round Table with the Development Partners of Cape Verde.

In 1996 the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture was created. For the first time S&T activities are coordinated at a Ministerial level. The Ministry's legislative framework creates the National Committee for Science and Technology and the General Directorate of Higher Education and Science, devoted to coordinating and promoting of scientific and technological activities at a national level.

The periodical organization of S&T International Conferences will be essential to upgrade the information and introduce improvements on that area.

Call for Participation

Conference Methodology and Strategic Goals

In Mindelo, scientific conferences will cover issues such as the environment, agriculture, energy and fisheries, integrated on Cape Verde's social and economic development perspective. Exhibits will also be held, organized by national institutions dedicated to scientific research and the private sector. These events will have the support of foreign and national scientists, university professors and enterprises. The Conference Committee is hoping to have the participation of experts from Angola, Brazil, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Holland, India, Israel, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain, Senegal and the United States of America.

Scientific research in Cape Verde is in its early stages. During the two decades after independence, several institutions were created such as I.N.I.T. (renewable energies), I.N.G.R.H. (hydrological research and management), I.N.I.D.A. (food, agriculture and biotechnology), I.N.D.P. (fisheries), I.N.E.R.F. (reforestation and soil conservation) and S.E.M.A.P. (environment). Recently INIT was extinct and the Government is creating a new research institute dedicated to energy, called INERG.

The main goal of the conference is to discuss the path to be followed by the National Technological System and ensure the continuity and improvements in the present institutional framework.

The institutions show several insufficiencies such as human resources training, maintenance, due to the lack of appropriate technological cooperation schemes. However, most of the projects were successful but other never left the launch pad.

Specific strategic objectives:

1. Introduction of the Directorate of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
2. Presentation of the national strategic approach for S&T and its relationship with the sustainable development of Cape Verde.
3. To diagnose the present situation and the necessary improvements of national activities in S&T.
4. To study strategical objectives and methodologies to overcome the main constrains of development: water and energy resources, transports, communications, computer science, insularity and natural resources conservation.
5. Exhibit the main technologies in use in the country on the above areas by public and private institutions.
6. Gather information aimed at the elaboration of a National Long Term Policy on S&T for Cape Verde.

Preliminary Conference Program

Monday, September 29th

• Morning Session - Research and Development in Cape Verde
  • National research policies
  • S&T information, the new information technologies.
  • Technology transfer, intellectual property, standardization, Training and secondary and higher education curricula.
  • The role of expatriate capacities
  • Future perspectives

• Afternoon Session - The Environment in Cape Verde
  • Presentation of national and cooperation projects on S&T in Cape Verde
  • Future perspectives of environmental protection and management techniques.
  • Exhibits of present and future projects.

Tuesday, September 30th

• Morning Session - Energy Resources in Cape Verde
  • Cape Verde's energy situation inserted on the global energy context.
  • Alternatives: renewable energy - solar, wind, ocean, geothermal and others

• Afternoon Session - Water Resources in Cape Verde
  • Hydrological research and management
  • Alternatives: water desalination using renewable energy.
  • Future perspectives.

Wednesday, October 1st

• Agriculture in Cape Verde
  • Sectorial analysis
  • Agricultural research and techniques
  • Food industry sustainability and biotechnological research
  • Cattle breeding
  • Future perspectives

• Fisheries in Cape Verde
  • Sectorial analysis
  • Scientific research
  • Artisanal fishing and aquaculture
  • Marine biotechnology
  • Future perspectives

• Closing Session
  • Conclusions and recommendations

• Site visits to local energy, industry and fishery public and private enterprises.
• Cultural and tourist site visits.
• Cultural program.

Exhibits