Lubango: The secretary of State for Higher Education, Eugénio da Silva, expressed concerns regarding the slow uptake of funding for scientific research in Angola. He addressed these issues during a discussion on "Institutional and Structural Challenges of Scientific Research in Angola" at the Scientific Conference of the Mandume Ya Ndemofayo University (UMN), which was part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of National Independence. According to Angola Press News Agency, the secretary of State emphasized the role of the Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development (FUNDECITF), which is responsible for providing competitive funding for research projects in Angola. Despite this, there is a noticeable lack of engagement with funding opportunities, as the number of proposed projects has not met the expectations set by the Ministry of Higher Education. Eugénio da Silva revealed that out of 199 projects submitted, 166 were approved, with many failing to meet the required criteria. This s ituation underscores the challenges faculty members face in developing consistent scientific proposals. The secretary of State stressed the importance of training researchers in project development methodology, financial management, and scientific planning to overcome these obstacles. He reiterated that calls for proposals and competitive funding are vital tools to ensure rigor, transparency, and quality in scientific research. The integration of teaching, research, and outreach activities is seen as crucial for strengthening scientific research in Angola. The secretary of State noted that, historically, the country inherited good infrastructure but suffered a loss of skilled workers due to the war. To address this, the government has implemented scholarship programs for teachers and researchers, aiming to increase the number of postgraduate teachers to over 50% by 2027. Additionally, he pointed out the construction and renovation of laboratories and research centers at several public higher education inst itutions. Funding for these projects has been sourced from public resources and partnerships with the private sector, while some private universities have also invested in enhancing specialized laboratories and clinics.