The Democratic Republic of Congo is on the verge of experiencing a revolution in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship thanks to the launch of the “Congolese Genius Master Class” program. This initiative, supported by the Ministries of Industry, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, as well as Culture, Arts and Heritage, opens a promising horizon for the development of Congolese engineering at all levels.
This ambitious program aims to promote and stimulate Congolese talents, with an emphasis on exploiting the creative and innovative potential of the country’s inhabitants, including in rural and marginalized regions. The idea is to create unique Congolese intellectual properties, to be protected and promoted on the international scene.
According to engineer Patrick Daudi Faraja, National Coordinator of the Technology and Innovation Support Center (CATI), “The Congolese Engineering Master Class represents much more than simple training. It is a unique opportunity for all stakeholders in Congolese society to mobilize in favor of innovation and creativity, and to contribute to making the DRC a center of excellence in terms of technological innovation.”
During the first meeting of the steering committee which took place last May, the financing of 227 innovative projects was confirmed, the presentation of which is planned for December 2024. These projects bring together the contributions of 100 winners of the Master Class of Congolese Inventor and Innovator of 2019, as well as 127 winners of the Congolese Scientific Genius Conclave of 2023.
The ceremony scheduled for December 2024 will be an opportunity to select 150 new winners among candidates from the country’s 26 provinces. This approach guarantees the sustainability and expansion of the program on a national scale.
Rigorous intellectual property protection is at the heart of this initiative. Each innovation and creation resulting from the winners is systematically protected, thus ensuring respect and preservation of the rights of inventors and creators.
The Congolese Genius Master Class is part of the priority objectives of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo’s five-year term. In addition to creating jobs, stabilizing purchasing power, improving public security and diversifying the economy, the program aims to increase the efficiency of public services and guarantee expanded access. to basic social services.
The expected benefits are significant: more than 1,000 new businesses created, at least 300 new millionaires, around 25,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs, as well as a significant number of patents, trademarks and industrial models registered. The Congolese Genius Master Class promises to highlight all the innovative potential of the country and pave the way for a bright future for Congolese entrepreneurship.