National Commission for Science and Technology

What National Commission for Science and Technology does

The National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is a statutory body of the Government of Malawi, operating under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, responsible for coordinating and promoting science, technology, and innovation (STI) activities nationally. Its mandate includes setting the national research agenda, administering science and technology funds, conducting ethics and standards review through the National Committee on Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities (NCRSH), issuing research clearances, facilitating technology transfer and commercialization, and producing STI indicators for evidence-based policy. NCST serves individual researchers, universities (Mzuzu, University of Malawi, LUANAR, MUBAS, MUST), government ministries, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders across Malawi.

NCST operates a portfolio of interconnected online platforms and programs. Its digital infrastructure comprises the Innovation Portal, an Online Grants Management System, a D-Space research repository, an Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT), the NCST Directory of researchers and institutions, and a Library Thing catalog. Funding is delivered through the S&T Fund Malawi, the NCST Small Grants Scheme, and Grand Challenges Malawi (a partner of the Global Grand Challenges Network). Core programs cover RSTI Development and Management, Innovation and Technology Transfer, RSTI Data and Knowledge Management, RSTI Capacity Development, and RSTI Collaboration. Partnerships span AUDA-NEPAD, the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI), the UN Technology Bank, the National Statistical Office, the Malawi Academy of Sciences, and Mzuzu University.

As a government entity, NCST is funded through state budget allocations rather than commercial revenue; services including research clearance, ethics review, and grant management are provided without direct charges to end users. Its leadership consists of Director General Gift A. Kadzamira and Deputy Director of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. George Vakusi. The commission's strategic activities in 2025-2026 include conducting Malawi's first Business Innovation Survey with NSO, publishing a national Technology Needs Assessment with the UN Technology Bank, and launching the Nexa Research Call under Grand Challenges Malawi.

Name

National Commission for Science and Technology

Legal name

National Commission for Science and Technology

Website

https://ncst.mw

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Commission for Science and Technology is Malawi's statutory government body that coordinates national science, technology, and innovation activities through research agenda-setting, grant administration, ethics review, research clearance, and a portfolio of online platforms serving researchers, universities, and innovators across Malawi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lilongwe

HQ country

Malawi

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is a government statutory body of Malawi under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology that coordinates national science, technology, and innovation (STI) activities. It provides research clearance, ethics review, grants administration, and operates multiple online platforms supporting researchers, innovators, and institutions across Malawi.

Product overview

The National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is Malawi's government body responsible for science, technology, and innovation policy and coordination. Rather than a single unified product, NCST operates a portfolio of interconnected programs, platforms, and services. The core offerings include online systems (Innovation Portal, Grants Management System, D-Space Repository, IPT, Directory services) that support the national research and innovation ecosystem. Funding programs (S&T Fund Malawi, Small Grants Scheme, Grand Challenges Malawi) provide financial support to researchers. Research programs (RSTI Development, Capacity Development, Data Management) coordinate national research priorities. Together, these products and services form an integrated national STI infrastructure supporting research governance, innovation promotion, and technology transfer in Malawi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grand Challenges Malawi: A program under NCST that partners with the Global Grand Challenges Network to invest in Proof of Concept innovations in climate and health.
• S&T Fund Malawi
• NCST Small Grants Scheme

Products and services

• Research Clearance and Ethics Review Regulatory clearance and ethical review service for research proposals conducted in Malawi, serving researchers, academic institutions, and organizations undertaking scientific studies.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AUDA-NEPAD (African Union Development Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026NCST participates as a member of the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) in AUDA-NEPAD hosted events including the 2026 Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Week in Addis Ababa. This partnership facilitates continental STI collaboration and allows Malawi to engage with landmark reports setting Africa's path toward a knowledge-driven future.
• Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCST receives funding support through SGCI for implementing research projects. Currently supporting Mzuzu University to implement small-scale cage aquaculture project in Likoma district, demonstrating promising results for promoting sustainable aquaculture in Malawi.
• UN Technology Bank for Least Developed CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for conducting Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) for the Republic of Malawi. The TNA identifies critical areas where technological opportunities can meet national needs and serves as a tool to guide STI Policy and Strategy for national development.
• National Statistical Office (NSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCST collaborated with NSO to conduct Malawi's first-ever Business Innovation Survey (BIS) in 2025, collecting data for 2023 and 2024. This landmark survey marks a significant step in strengthening Malawi's National Innovation System.
• Mzuzu UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCST, with SGCI funding, supports Mzuzu University to implement a project promoting small-scale cage aquaculture in Likoma district. The project integrates modern aquaculture technology with community participation to reduce reliance on traditional fishing.
• Global Grand Challenges NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand Challenges Malawi (GCM), under NCST, is a partner of the Global Grand Challenges Network. GCM seeks to invest in Proof of Concept innovations, testing early-stage ideas, methods, or products through field-testing in real-world pilots to assess potential for impact.
• Malawi Academy of Sciences (TAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCST collaborates with TAS for the inauguration of newly elected Academy fellows. NCST's Deputy Director of Science, Technology and Innovation participated in the ceremony for 22 newly elected fellows in medical sciences, engineering, agriculture, mathematics, and social sciences.
• Ministry of Education, Science and TechnologycoreOthersNCST works in partnership with the Ministry for STI Policy and Strategy development. The UN Technology Bank TNA was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Malawi.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Science Foundation (NSF): The U.S. federal agency supporting basic research and education across non-medical fields; comparable as a government research funder and coordinator, but vastly larger in budget and remit than NCST.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): The UK's national research and innovation funding body, performing an analogous coordination and grant-making role but at much greater scale, with a broader disciplinary portfolio than NCST.

Direct peers

• Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH): Tanzania's national commission for science and technology, performing the same functions as NCST — coordinating research, funding STI activities, and managing research ethics — in a neighboring East African context.
• National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI): Kenya's statutory body for science, technology, and innovation coordination, with a near-identical mandate to NCST Malawi: research clearance, grants administration, ethics oversight, and national STI policy coordination.
• National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa: South Africa's national research funding and coordination agency; comparable in mandate (research grants, knowledge advancement, researcher support) but operating at significantly larger scale in a more developed research ecosystem.

Others

• UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries: UN entity that partnered with NCST and the Ministry of Education to deliver Malawi's 2026 Technology Needs Assessment; comparable as a multilateral peer that builds STI capacity in LDCs.
• Global Grand Challenges Network: International network of Grand Challenges partners, of which Grand Challenges Malawi (under NCST) is a member; relevant as a peer in coordinating proof-of-concept innovation funding across countries.
• African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD): Continental body that hosts the Science Granting Council Initiative and STI Week events in which NCST participates; comparable as an ecosystem convener rather than a direct national STI regulator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ncst.mw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Commission for Science and Technology