(Business in Cameroon) – The European Union (EU) has invested €1.93 million (about CFA1.3 billion) over four years to support 12 digital micro-projects in Cameroon. The impact of this initiative _part of the Promotion of Research, Innovation, and Digital Culture in Central Africa (Pricnac) project_ is being reviewed at a workshop in Douala from March 10 to 14.
“The goal is to assess both the quantitative and qualitative results of this project so that it can be expanded and sustained over time,” said Professor Alain Kiyindou, regional director of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) for Central Africa and the Great Lakes.
Pricnac, with a total budget of €4.88 million (CFA3.2 billion), has supported 17 mini-projects across eight Central African countries. The initiative was 85% funded by the EU through the ACP Innovation Fund and its research and innovation program, with the remaining 15% covered by the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OEACP).
Cameroon played a central role in the program, hosting 70% of the projects and using 60.48% of the total budget. Among the funded initiatives is Synerime, a project led by Cameroonian engineer Flavien Kouatcha that connects research and innovation ecosystems with businesses to create youth employment opportunities.
With €150,000 (CFA100 million) in funding, Synerime was implemented in Congo, Cameroon, and Gabon. “We trained young entrepreneurs and student innovators on patent registration, how to pitch solutions to companies, and how to draft business contracts so that private firms can adopt their solutions,” explained Kouatcha.
The Pricnac project, which ran from January 2021 to January 2025, aimed to strengthen research and innovation in Central Africa by fostering collaboration between entrepreneurs, the digital sector, and innovation policies—all with the goal of driving sustainable development and reducing poverty.
