Maputo, Sept. 1, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's government announced on Tuesday the creation of the Institute for Research in Biotechnology and Water to ensure access to essential resources and strengthen public policies and mechanisms to address the challenges of climate change and water scarcity.
The cabinet spokesman, Inocêncio Impissa, explained at the end of a cabinet meeting that the government established the Institute for Research in Biotechnology and Water (IBA) by decree, which supersedes the National Centre for Biotechnology and Biosciences and the Institute for Water Research.
«The aim of establishing this body is to ensure the protection of the public interest and national sovereignty by strengthening the capacity to carry out scientific research, technological development and innovation in biotechnology and water that directly serves the population,» Impissa said.
He also explained that the new institute aims to ensure scientific research, technological development, knowledge transfer and applied innovation in the fields of agriculture, health, the environment and water.
Another of the institute's missions is to maximise the scientific and technological impact resulting from the strategic integration of expertise, scientific research, technological development and innovation in biotechnology and water, ensuring greater institutional efficiency and a consequent reduction in public expenditure through administrative and financial rationalisation, to optimise human and financial resources.
The institution should also contribute to establishing robust mechanisms to address the challenges of climate change, water scarcity ‘in terms of quantity and quality', and the need for innovation in health, agriculture and other related areas, ‘with a direct impact on the life of Mozambican society, in response to national and global demands'.
According to the spokesperson, the Institute for Research in Biotechnology and Water will also systematically encourage the transformation of scientific knowledge generated by scientific research, technological development and innovation in biotechnology and water into practical solutions that enable the development of technologies tailored to the needs of communities.
«And, finally, to strengthen Mozambique's role, standing and relevance in its international commitments regarding scientific research, technological development and innovation in biotechnology and water,» added Impissa.
Based in Maputo, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation (MCTD) will oversee the institute, and the Ministry of Finance (MF) will fund it.
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