National Council for Science and Technology: Home
National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is Rwanda's statutory body, established by Law No. 40/2017 under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, coordinating national science, technology and innovation policy, research permits, and grant administration for researchers, academia, government and the private sector.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersKigali, Rwanda
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Council for Science and Technology: Home does
The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is Rwanda's statutory body for science, technology and innovation policy, established by Law No. 40/2017 of 16 August 2017 and operating under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. Its mandate is to advise the Government of Rwanda on STI policy, coordinate national research activities, regulate research through permits, and channel grant funding toward national R&D priorities. The organisation serves a broad stakeholder base that includes individual researchers (a national pool of 7,411 R&D personnel), the University of Rwanda and CMU-Africa, line ministries, private-sector innovators, and international partners such as IDRC, AUDA-NEPAD, EASTECO, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
NCST's core product surface combines digital infrastructure with grant programmes. The Rwanda Research and Innovation Repository aggregates national research outputs, projects and personnel data; the Research Permit Application System streamlines regulatory approval for in-country research; the Grant Schemes Project and the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) administer public R&D funding; and Grand Challenges Rwanda, co-launched with the Gates Foundation, runs innovation challenge grants. Together these platforms form an end-to-end stack covering research registration, permitting, funding, and outcome tracking across Rwanda's R&D ecosystem.
The business model is non-commercial and government-funded: NCST does not earn revenue from customers but instead administers state appropriations and donor co-financing through the National Research and Innovation Fund, with Rwanda's reported gross domestic expenditure on R&D standing at 129.9 billion Frw (0.79% of GDP). Pricing for grant calls and permits is set administratively rather than on a market basis, and the value proposition to government and donors is policy advice, ecosystem coordination, and measurable national R&D outcomes rather than monetisation of users.
National Council for Science and Technology: Home firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Council for Science and Technology: Home
- Legal name
- National Council for Science and Technology
- Website
- https://ncst.gov.rw
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is Rwanda's statutory body, established by Law No. 40/2017 under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, coordinating national science, technology and innovation policy, research permits, and grant administration for researchers, academia, government and the private sector.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Council for Science and Technology: Home industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Science & Technology Policy Coordination
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)
Keywords
Where National Council for Science and Technology: Home is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kigali
- HQ country
- Rwanda
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Council for Science and Technology: Home business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
National Council for Science and Technology: Home product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NCST serves as Rwanda's statutory national coordinator for science, technology, research and innovation, advising the Government on STI policy, legislation and regulation. It provides researchers and institutions with self-service digital tools — including the Rwanda Research & Innovation Repository, an online Research Permit Application System, and the Research and Innovation Grant Management System (RIGMS) — and disburses research and innovation funding through the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) and initiatives such as Grand Challenges Rwanda.
Product overview
The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is a Rwandan government institution that serves as the national coordinating body for science, technology, and innovation policy. Rather than offering a unified software product, NCST provides a portfolio of research coordination services including the Rwanda Research & Innovation Repository for knowledge sharing, the Research Permit Application System for regulating research activities, and the Grant Schemes Project for funding innovation. The Grand Challenges Rwanda program, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, funds specific scientific research projects. Two key departments—the National Research & Innovation Fund (NRIF) managing research funding, and the Science Technology Development & Outreach department handling policy—underpin these service offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use National Council for Science and Technology: Home
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
National Council for Science and Technology: Home technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
National Council for Science and Technology: Home partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)minorGovernment agency partner collaborating on agricultural research and development initiatives in Rwanda
- Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-A)coreStrategic partnership with CMU-Africa for engineering education, research collaboration, and capacity building in science and technology
- University of RwandacorePrimary academic partner for research coordination, innovation programs, and human capital development in STI
- East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO)coreRegional partner for promoting science and technology cooperation across East African countries
- Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)minorPartner for biomedical research initiatives and health-related science and technology programs
- African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)coreContinental partner for implementing science, technology and innovation priorities aligned with STISA 2034 and AU development agenda
- Rwanda Development BoardminorGovernment partner for promoting innovation-driven economic development and technology commercialization
- National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)minorGovernment agency partner for industrial research, technology development, and innovation in Rwanda's industrial sector
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Council for Science and Technology: Home competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Science Foundation for Africa (SFA): African non-profit platform that coordinates and funds scientific research and innovation across the continent. Comparable to NCST as a partner in Grand Challenges Rwanda and as a peer in funding and coordinating research programs in Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Singapore: Singapore's lead public agency for economic-oriented research and innovation. Comparable to NCST as a national R&D coordination and funding body, but focused on translational, industry-driven research at much larger scale.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): U.S. federal agency that funds and coordinates scientific research and innovation through grants and policy advisory. Comparable to NCST in serving as a national-level R&D funding and coordination body, though operating at vastly larger scale and budget.
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippines: Philippines' central government agency for science, technology, and innovation policy and funding. Comparable to NCST as a national STI policy and funding body in an emerging-market context.
- Department of Science and Technology (DST) India: Indian government department overseeing science, technology, and innovation policy and major research funding programs. Comparable to NCST in national policy mandate and grant-making role, though at vastly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA): Kenyan state agency responsible for coordinating and supporting the national innovation ecosystem. Closely comparable to NCST as a neighbouring East African government body focused on innovation coordination and policy implementation.
- Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST): Uganda's national body for science, technology, and innovation policy, research coordination, and research permitting. Directly comparable to NCST in mandate, function, and East African context, including research permit issuance.
- South Africa Department of Science and Innovation (DSI): National government department responsible for science, technology, and innovation policy in South Africa. Directly comparable to NCST's mandate as a national STI policy and coordination body, with a similar African emerging-market context.
- Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH): Tanzanian government commission coordinating science, technology, and innovation activities. Highly comparable to NCST as a peer East African national STI coordination body.
- National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa: South African government agency that funds research, supports innovation, and provides research infrastructure. Directly comparable to NCST's role as a national research and innovation grant-maker and coordinator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Council for Science and Technology: Home social profiles
Digital presenceNational Council for Science and Technology: Home financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Council for Science and Technology: Home leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
National Council for Science and Technology: Home subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
National Council for Science and Technology: Home funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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National Council for Science and Technology: Home M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about National Council for Science and Technology: Home
What does National Council for Science and Technology: Home do?
NCST serves as Rwanda's statutory national coordinator for science, technology, research and innovation, advising the Government on STI policy, legislation and regulation. It provides researchers and institutions with self-service digital tools — including the Rwanda Research & Innovation Repository, an online Research Permit Application System, and the Research and Innovation Grant Management System (RIGMS) — and disburses research and innovation funding through the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) and initiatives such as Grand Challenges Rwanda.
Is National Council for Science and Technology: Home a public or private company?
National Council for Science and Technology: Home is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was National Council for Science and Technology: Home founded?
National Council for Science and Technology: Home was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Council for Science and Technology: Home based?
National Council for Science and Technology: Home is headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, in the Africa region.
Who are National Council for Science and Technology: Home's main competitors?
Science Foundation for Africa (SFA) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Singapore, National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippines and Department of Science and Technology (DST) India. Direct peers are Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA), Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), South Africa Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa.
Does National Council for Science and Technology: Home have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Council for Science and Technology: Home.
What industry is National Council for Science and Technology: Home in?
National Council for Science and Technology: Home's product category is Government Science & Technology Policy Coordination. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAAAK, Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy), with a secondary code of BPADAEAL, Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8200.