National Center for Scientific and Technical Research
| Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (French) المركز الوطني للبحث العلمي والتقني (Arabic) | |
| Abbreviation | CNRST |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1976 |
| Type | Public Institution |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
Director | Jamila El Alami |
Parent organization | Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (Morocco) |
| Website | www |
The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (French: Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, CNRST) is a Moroccan government agency based in Rabat. Established in 1976 and reorganized by Decree No. 1-01-205 in 2001, it is the primary body responsible for coordinating, promoting, and funding scientific research across the Kingdom's universities and research centers.[1]
Missions and Infrastructure
The CNRST functions as both a funding agency and a technical operator for Morocco's scientific community. It manages several critical national infrastructures:
- MARWAN Network: The center operates the Moroccan Academic and Research Wide Area Network, a high-speed telecommunications infrastructure that connects Moroccan universities to the international GEANT network.[2]
- UATRS: The Technical Support Unit for Scientific Research (French: Unité d’Appui Technique à la Recherche Scientifique) provides researchers with access to high-level laboratory equipment, including electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy.
- National Geophysics Institute (ING): This unit is responsible for seismic monitoring and earthquake alerts within the Moroccan territory.[2]
Funding and Cooperation
The center manages national calls for research projects and oversees the distribution of doctoral research grants. It also acts as the national focal point for scientific cooperation with international bodies, particularly within the framework of the European Union's research programs.