Cameroon launches 2nd edition of scientific, innovation awards

The second edition of awards in science and innovation was launched on Tuesday in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde to identify the outstanding work by researchers and give them the top science prizes.

This year's theme is "science and sustainable development: role of Cameroonian diaspora in the scientific development of Cameroon".

The prizes will be given to researchers working in the fields of renewable energy, food security, climatic change, traditional medicine, mineral natural resources, migrations and development.

Four prizes are set for local competitors while that for development is for a foreigner, with respective values ranging from 1 million FCFA (2,000 U. S. dollars) to 2 million FCFA (4,000). A special prize is reserved to encourage the diaspora. A special prize from the president, "the golden lion for scientific excellence", hits 20 million FCFA (about 40,000 dollars).

Created on Oct. 3, 2007 by the Cameroonian Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, the event is intended to promote scientific research in the central African country.

Source: Xinhua