| WELCOME |  |
Research Week 2007 is a novel initiative of the University of Mauritius to promote Research & Development activities related to national development and to create an innovation culture crucial for the future economic success of the country.
The theme for this first edition, ‘Research & Innovations Challenges’, reflects our unflinching desire to provide an interactive platform for the wider research community for the dissemination of research findings to relevant stakeholders, and also for promoting collaborations and synergies.
Indeed, the number of abstract submissions far exceeded our expectations. We received 225 abstracts, including a few from overseas. After peer review, the Scientific Committee retained 100 submissions for oral presentations, and a further 59 for poster paper presentations. Full papers will appear in a Special Issue of the online Research Journal of the University of Mauritius, after a second peer review process.
The second part of the Research Week is devoted to the promotion of an Innovation and entrepreneurship culture in various target groups, including students, industry, entrepreneurs, and the general public through an effective use of the Intellectual property system of protection to create value added products and services.
It is my pleasure to acknowledge all participants, resource persons from Mauritius and overseas, in particular from WIPO, reviewers, Research Week committee members, the University of Mauritius, our partners, and finally our much valued sponsors.
It is planned that this premier event will constitute the first of a series of a regular annual event to come in the future.
Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Consultancy and Innovation
Convener for Research Week 2007