Port Louis, May 29: The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) has reaffirmed its commitment to education and innovation through its support for the Science Quest since 2015. The event, a flagship initiative of the Rajiv Gandhi Science Center (RGSC), where the winners of the 11th edition were unveiled on Thursday, May 28, during a ceremony at the National Sports Complex of Côte d’Or in the presence of the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr. Mahend Gungapersad.
This year, 86 innovative projects, led by more than 300 students and 80 teachers hailing from 47 schools across the island, were presented on May 26 and 27, 2026. Over the years, Science Quest has established itself as an essential platform to stimulate critical thinking, creativity, and innovation capacity among young students, directly linked to key skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The event also stressed the importance of synergies between the public and private sectors to sustainably support the development of talent and respond to emerging challenges, especially in areas such as agriculture, energy, or the environment.
In Category 1 (Grades 7 to 9), Notre Dame College Curepipe won gold with an innovative project on the de-pollution of metals using algae. While Reet’s High School and Patten College bagged the silver and bronze awards, respectively. Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School distinguished itself with its project “The Ionic Engine”, followed by Adventist College and the Royal College of Port Louis.
In the Category 3 (Grades 12 to 13), the College of the Holy Spirit won gold for its project dedicated to improving the mobility of the elderly, ahead of Imperial College and Sir Leckraz Teelock State Secondary School. The award-winning colleges, as well as the accompanying teachers, won prizes totaling Rs 250,000 and trophies offered by the MCB.
Head of Sustainability, Reputation and Engagement of MCB, Vanessa de Spéville commented: “At MCB, we strongly believe in the youth, its potential and ability to innovate. Encouraging critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity is an integral part of our mission, Success Beyond Numbers. It is in this spirit that we support initiatives such as Science Quest, the Spelling Bee or Deba Klima. All these platforms have a common goal: to offer young people opportunities to express themselves, develop their talents, and gain confidence in their abilities.
“By supporting the Science Quest for more than a decade, the MCB reaffirms its role as a committed partner in the training of tomorrow’s talents and the promotion of a scientific culture focused on innovation and sustainable development.”
