Created by Ordinance No. 2018-593 of June 27, 2018, FONSTI was born from a scientific partnership between Côte d'Ivoire and Switzerland, as part of the Strategic Support Program for Scientific Research (PASRES). Designed on the model of the Swiss National Fund (SNF), it is a legal entity under private law recognized as being of public utility, entirely dedicated to financing research projects with strong socio-economic impact. At its creation, it was endowed with an initial capital of 5 billion CFA francs.

In a few years, FONSTI demonstrated its practical usefulness. Between 2020 and 2023, it financed 59 research projects for a cumulative amount of 1.141 billion FCFA, including 14 projects already completed. In 2025, it has further allocated 540 million FCFA to 12 new projects targeting three strategic sectors: health, sustainable agriculture and renewable energies. This funding is directly in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating a long-term vision for Côte d'Ivoire.

FONSTI is not limited to universities alone. It also works to structure an innovation ecosystem by integrating incubators and private companies as key players in the valorization of research results. In April 2023, it signed a partnership with the Center for Technological Development and Innovation of Spain (CDTI), paving the way for international collaborations for Ivorian researchers and companies. In 2026, its presence at the Africa-Europe scientific forum in Brussels confirms its growing influence.

In almost 8 years of existence, the FONSTI has become an essential lever of Ivorian scientific policy. For Côte d'Ivoire to fully realize its ambition to become an African technological hub, its institutional and budgetary strengthening must be a national priority.