Ambassador of Benin visiting KIT
During a journey through Baden-Württemberg, Josselin da Silva Gbony, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin, visited KIT. With Professor Joachim Knebel, Head of Division III - Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, she spoke about the idea of joint projects and a partnership.
West Africa, Josselin da Silva Gbony said, is investing in innovation and research on climate change, land use and energy. At the initiative of the President of Benin, innovation centers are to be set up in the Republic in order to build long-term scientific capacities to deal with climate change and the impacts on land use in West Africa. In 2016, the Institute Supérieur des Sciences et Techniques du Bénin (ISST-BENIN) was founded. According to the ambassador, the institute aims at the role of a multinational training center for science and economics in West Africa. The focus should be on technical and vocational training. Against this background, the institute is currently seeking contacts with German universities.
During the interview, the Ambassador invited KIT representatives to an information visit to Benin. She also showed interest in further meetings with the scientists of KIT. Especially in the field of entrepreneurship and technology transfer, Benin wishes KIT to be a partner. The experience of KIT in technical and vocational training could also be of great benefit to Benin.
In addition to KIT, the Ambassador and Ludovic Dakossi (Communication and Technical Cooperation Department) visited industrial companies in the Karlsruhe area and met with Mayor Dr. Ing. Frank Mentrup to discuss cooperation between West Africa and the Karlsruhe Technology Region. Among other things, the trip was about exploring the possibilities for opening a consulate in Karlsruhe. At present, the Republic of Benin is represented by the Embassy in Berlin with two consulates in Munich and Saarbrücken in Germany.
