Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso are strengthening cooperation in scientific research and innovation, as both countries seek to improve funding, management and commercialisation of research output.
The push gained momentum with a joint capacity-building workshop bringing together researchers involved in projects funded by Côte d’Ivoire’s Science, Technology and Innovation Fund and Burkina Faso’s National Fund for Research and Innovation for Development.
According to Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the meeting focused on improving project management, monitoring and evaluation, as well as boosting the commercial potential of research findings.
Participants also received training on intellectual property protection, with experts outlining mechanisms to safeguard innovations and bring them to market.
“This workshop is a lever to improve the performance and visibility of funded projects,” said Barima Yao Sabas at the opening.
Officials say the initiative reflects a broader effort to deepen collaboration between the two countries and address shared structural challenges in their research ecosystems.
The partnership is supported by international partners including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and South Africa, highlighting growing external interest in strengthening research capacity in West Africa.
Bationo Babou said the cooperation aims to pool resources and expertise to maximise impact, particularly in areas critical to development.
Both countries face persistent funding constraints in research and development.
In Côte d’Ivoire, public spending on research remains low. According to the African Development Bank, the country allocates around 0.1 percent of its gross domestic product to research, well below the African Union’s recommended target of one percent.
Authorities have also flagged weak links between research and industry, limiting the commercialisation of innovations.
In Burkina Faso, funding is similarly constrained. The research fund said it allocated about 1.13 billion CFA francs (around $1.9 million) to institutions in 2024, with the bulk of financing coming from the state.
Analysts say limited resources and capacity gaps have made it difficult for researchers in both countries to translate scientific work into commercially viable products or scalable solutions.
The joint programme aims to address these challenges by equipping researchers with practical skills in innovation management, collaboration and fundraising.
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Experts, including those from the Institute for Research and Development, say strengthening such capacities is essential to improving the impact of research and supporting economic transformation in the region.
Authorities say deeper cooperation could help both countries build more resilient research systems, while fostering innovation-driven growth in key sectors.
Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have in recent years sought to strengthen collaboration in science, technology and innovation as part of broader efforts to support economic transformation and job creation.
Both countries face structural challenges in their research ecosystems, including limited funding, weak links between academia and industry, and low levels of innovation commercialisation.
In Côte d’Ivoire, public spending on research and development remains among the lowest on the continent. According to the African Development Bank, the country allocates about 0.1 percent of its gross domestic product to research, far below the African Union’s target of one percent.
Authorities have acknowledged that while academic research output has improved, translating research into marketable products and services remains a key bottleneck.
In Burkina Faso, research funding is also constrained, with heavy reliance on state resources and limited private-sector participation. This has made it difficult to scale projects and sustain long-term innovation programmes.
To address these gaps, both countries have established dedicated funding institutions, including Côte d’Ivoire’s FONSTI and Burkina Faso’s FONRID, aimed at supporting scientific research and innovation for development.
The joint FONSTI-FONRID programme reflects a growing shift toward regional collaboration, allowing countries to pool resources, share expertise and tackle common development challenges more effectively.
International partners — including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and South Africa — have also backed such initiatives, underscoring the importance of research and innovation in driving sustainable growth across West Africa.
Experts say strengthening research capacity, improving intellectual property systems and enhancing commercialisation are critical to ensuring that scientific advances translate into tangible economic and social benefits.
