Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. FRENCH ambassador to Zimbabwe Paul Bertrand Barets has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to scientific partnerships with local universities to drive innovation and provide home-grown solutions.
Barets said this on Wednesday at the sixth edition of the University of Zimbabwe Research, Innovation and Industrialisation Week.
The event marked the unveiling of a cutting-edge Biotechnology Laboratory for diagnosing animal diseases, developed in collaboration with French research institute CIRAD.
The laboratory seeks to strengthen Zimbabwe’s ability to detect zoonotic diseases, illnesses that affect both animals and humans, bolstering national health security and livestock management.
“Scientific co-operation is a pillar of our bilateral relationship,” Barets said.
“This biomolecular lab enhances local capabilities in detecting zoonotic diseases, which is vital for both economic stability and public health.”
Among standout exhibits was a new pharmaceutical start-up focused on domestic drug manufacturing.
UZ vice-chancellor Paul Mapfumo said the institution intended to translate academic research to commercial ventures.
“This is the year of commercialisation, as directed by President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa,” he said.
“The start-ups launched here are viable and can attract real investment to scale into full commercial operations.”
Skills Audit and Development minister Paul Mavima stressed the need to reform regulatory systems that often delay or restrict innovation rollout.
“We want to ensure that the process of granting market entry authority is streamlined,” Mavima said.
“Regulatory frameworks must be effective, but not restrictive.
“What we’ve seen here is impressive — a state-of-the-art lab equipped with the latest technology, some of which was supported by the French embassy.”
The exhibition featured innovations in renewable energy, agritech, digital technologies and biotechnology, underscoring the growing diversity of Zimbabwe’s innovation landscape.
It was held under the theme From Innovation Hubs to Commercial Markets: Building Zimbabwe’s Economic Pathway.
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