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| CNRST | |
|---|---|
| Name | CNRST |
| Type | National research funding agency |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Rabat |
| Area served | Morocco |
| Key people | Najib Zerouali (former Minister), Mohamed Hassad (former Minister) |
CNRST
The CNRST is the principal Moroccan national agency responsible for coordinating scientific research, financing research projects, and promoting innovation across Moroccan institutions. It operates within a landscape that includes ministries, universities, research centers, and international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the European Commission. The agency interacts with prominent institutions like Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Sina, and multilateral partners including the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Established in the late 20th century, the agency emerged during reforms involving figures such as Abdelaziz Bouteflika-era regional developments and Moroccan ministers who shaped science policy like Mohamed El Yazghi and Driss Basri-era administrators. Its founding followed precedents set by agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France. Over successive administrations including those of Abbas El Fassi and Abdelilah Benkirane, the agency adapted to national strategies influenced by international accords like the Bologna Process and collaborations with programs such as Horizon 2020. Milestones include alignment with national plans championed by leaders associated with King Mohammed VI and implementation periods overlapping with projects financed by the European Investment Bank and bilateral cooperation with the French Development Agency.
Governance of the agency reflects interactions with ministries overseen by ministers previously serving in cabinets of Abdelilah Benkirane and Saadeddine Othmani. Its statutory framework draws on models from agencies such as Conseil National de la Recherche Scientifique-style bodies and administrative practices influenced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (Morocco). The governing board includes representatives from leading universities like Université Ibn Zohr, research institutes such as the Institut Pasteur du Maroc, and technical agencies akin to the Office Chérifien des Phosphates. Leadership appointments are linked to national appointments systems similar to those in Tunisia and Algeria, with oversight relationships comparable to those between the National Institutes of Health and executive branches in other states.
The agency channels funding through competitive grants, fellowships, and institutional support, operating instruments comparable to the European Research Council and national programs inspired by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche. It administers scholarship schemes akin to those of the Fulbright Program and supports capacity-building initiatives modeled on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Funding sources include national budget allocations negotiated in frameworks resembling fiscal planning in the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Morocco) and external grants from bodies like the World Health Organization and the Global Fund. Program portfolios cover thematic calls similar to priorities in UNESCO science reports, spanning agriculture with partners like the Food and Agriculture Organization, health collaborations with entities such as Médecins Sans Frontières-affiliated projects, and energy initiatives influenced by institutions like the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Initiatives emphasize priority areas including agricultural research linked to Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, health research tied to Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Sina, water management projects comparable to programs by the United Nations Environment Programme, and industrial innovation in sectors with actors such as Office Chérifien des Phosphates. R&D efforts mirror collaborative frameworks found in Horizon Europe consortia and often involve technology transfer models inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology spin-off ecosystem. The agency has supported thematic networks akin to those convened by the African Academy of Sciences and multilayered projects related to climate resilience that resonate with initiatives from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
International cooperation includes bilateral and multilateral partnerships with organizations such as the European Commission, UNESCO, World Bank, African Development Bank, and national research agencies including the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt collaborations, and exchanges with the National Institute of Health (USA). Academic partnerships span universities like Université Mohamed Premier, Université Cadi Ayyad, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, and international counterparts including Université Paris-Saclay, Imperial College London, University of California, Berkeley, and King's College London. Cooperative projects mirror consortia patterns seen in Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ mobility schemes.
Notable projects supported by the agency include agricultural modernization programs resembling work by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, public health studies comparable to WHO-backed trials, and industrial cooperation with firms linked to Office Chérifien des Phosphates value chains. Impacts are visible in strengthened university research capacity at institutions such as Université Hassan Ier, enhanced laboratory infrastructure similar to investments by the European Investment Bank, and increased participation of Moroccan researchers in international conferences like those organized by the Royal Society and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World.
Criticism has centered on issues familiar to national research agencies: allocation transparency debated in forums like Transparency International-related discussions, bureaucratic hurdles comparable to critiques of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, and challenges in retaining talent akin to trends reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Additional challenges include coordinating with provincial administrations modeled on governance in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, securing sustained funding amid macroeconomic constraints referenced by the International Monetary Fund, and bridging gaps between academia and industry as highlighted in reports from bodies such as the World Economic Forum.
Category:Research in Morocco