Togo: Ministry of Higher Education Reviews Key Scientific Research and Innovation Program in Recent B2B meeting

Education

Friday, 04 July 2025 16:13

Togo: Ministry of Higher Education Reviews Key Scientific Research and Innovation Program in Recent B2B meeting

Togo's Ministry of Higher Education presents results of the VaRRIWA project, promoting academic research and innovation in West Africa.
The initiative has led to 14 key projects, including four in Togo, and generated 322 jobs, highlighting the country's rapid technological growth.

In Togo, the Ministry of Higher Education is intensifying its focus on research and innovation, as demonstrated during a recent B2B meeting in Lomé on July 3rd, where results from the West African Research and Innovation Results Utilization project (VaRRIWA) were presented.

The event facilitated discussions between researchers, innovators, and investors, under the aegis of the University Agency of Francophonie (AUF). The VaRRIWA project, during its deployment, engaged 375 key players, created a regional digital platform, and most significantly, implemented 14 development projects, including four in Togo.

These Togolese projects include UVi2A (an Agricultural and Agri-food Innovations Unit) that focuses on agricultural innovations, and CAVRIS, a support center promoting research and innovation outcomes in the field of science and technology. Other projects involve training in value creation (FORVARITO) and public-private partnerships for financing (PPVRI).

In terms of impact, the project helped create 25 businesses and 322 jobs, alongside an 11-point jump for Togo in the Global Innovation Index (GII), a worldwide performance measure of technological dynamism.

The July 3 meeting also facilitated discussions regarding financial challenges and private co-investment opportunities. During the roundtable, Dr. Kossi Sénamé Dodzi, the director of scientific research, emphasized the necessity of "initiating win-win partnerships" to build a truly sustainable innovation ecosystem.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.