The collaborative took place at Top Tower Hotel, on 3 June 2010, with the purpose of building a robust partnership with HEIs, to achieve the creation of a critical mass of researchers in Rwanda, for sustainable development and poverty eradication.
The meeting was opened by the Minister of Education, he expressed the importance of the meeting, and observed the role of research in making Rwanda contribute significantly to the global development arena, but most importantly to support the Government of Rwanda in achieving the development vision under the EDPRS targets, he challenged HELs heads to catch this opportunity with zeal, and commended the founding members especially IPAR for working to achieve social and economical development in Rwanda.
The IPAR Executive Director in her presentation informed the audience on the objective of the meeting, and gave a detailed account of the EPRN, called on the participants to freely share the views aiming at building partnership towards research development in Rwanda working together as one.
PROCEEDINGS
After the introduction of all participants, the Agenda of the meeting was discussed and adopted with amendments. Participants raised their concern on various issues, from assessment of the partnership to viability, but all were upbeat on the initiative and expressed readiness to work within the network to influence its achievements.  
CROSS CUTTING ISSUES
The participants highlighted very important issues that may act as barriers for HEIs involving in active research
·    Private sector involvement in research and the process of development.
·    Giving a great attention to research in the development agenda
·    How policy research can contribute to setting new standards, and influence policy on all levels
The session adopted to break in working groups to effectively undertake the task on the agenda, the opted chairperson divided participants in three groups to further elaborate on