NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE LAUNCHES CORPORATE PLAN 2024-2028

By Lethisa KOLOKOL

The Papua New Guinea National Research institute (PNG NRI) today launched its corporate plan 2024-2028 at the NRI headquarters in Gerehu, Port Moresby.

The Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Hon Kinoka Feo officially launched the NRI’s corporate plan saying it is not just a document but “a roadmap, a blueprint and call to action”.

He said NRI is the compass to the progress and development of the country.

“In an era of unprecedented global challenges and rapid technological advancement, the role of the premier think tank has never been more critical. The corporate plan reaffirms NRI’s position as the beacon of knowledge and innovation, bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical governance,” Minister Feo said.

Minster Feo made reference to the success of Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates and how it was able to fully utilize Artificial Intelligence capturing it into research and innovation coming up with practical solutions that has seen the city flourish in the past years.

He encouraged the researches, staff, council and management of NRI to use these tools in their research to come up with evidence-based policies as he believes NRI is the nation’s driving force behind the policy making and innovative thinking, serving the best interest of the nation.

The Director for PNGNRI, Dr. Osbourne Sanida thanked the Minster and NRI council members for launching this very important document and institute remains committed to its motto “inquire, inform and influence”.

He said the PNGNRI corporate plan 2024-2028 is linked to the PNGRI Strategic Plan 202-2030, the Medium-Term Development Plan IV 2023-2027 and other relevant government plans and policies.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PNG NRI Council, Mr Wilson Thompson in his opening remarks shared that like PNG Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and National Agriculture Research Institute of Papua New Guinea (NARI), PNG NRI is a research institute, providing the country with the relevant informant needed for driving policy making however the biggest challenge is the finance and logistical support to open branches in all provinces in the country.

With the new corporate plan and the revised strategic plan, Mr Thompson hopes to get support from the relevant stakeholders to open more NRI centres all throughout the country.