The official launch ceremony of the Scientific Days of Drone Under the Tropics of Africa (JS Drone) took place on February 6, 2020, from 09:00 am to 01:00 pm, at the "Amphi A du District" of the University Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Côte d'Ivoire). This ceremony was organised under the theme: "Contribution of drones to the development of scientific research in Côte d'Ivoire".
By initiating the JS Drone, the GeoRESBIO of the Institute of Tropical Geography (IGT), creates a permanent framework for exchanges between the professionals of drone and the scientific community to enable a transfer of technology and competence of drone to the various fields of scientific research in Côte d'Ivoire, and even in Africa. These synergies will allow to effectively address the complex environmental issues that undermine spaces and territories of human societies in full growth and economic change.
Two hundred guests took part in the ceremony, among whom were:
- The Representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research;
- The Representative of the Minister of Sanitation and Hygiene;
- The Representative of the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries;
- Distinguished Representatives of Ambassadors;
- The Vice-President of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (UFHB);
- The Representatives of the Director General of the National Civil Aviation Autority (ANAC);
- The Representative of the Director General of the Société de Développement des Forêts (SODEFOR);
- The Representatives of the Director General of the Agence Nationale d'Appui au Développement Rural (ANADER);
- The Representative of the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Parks and Reserves of Côte d'Ivoire (FPRCI);
- The Director of Control, Management and Governance of UFHB;
- The Representative of the Director of Human Resources of UFHB;
- The Deans of UFHB;
- Ladies and Gentlemen Directors of Centers, Schools and Research Institutes;
- The Head of the Department of Inter-University Cooperation and External Relations;
- The Heads of Department of UFHB;
- Ladies and Gentlemen Researchers, Professors of the Universities of Côte d'Ivoire and Sherbrooke (Canada);
- The President of the Order of Land Surveyors Expert of Côte d'Ivoire (OGECI);
- Ladies and Gentlemen Development Partners;
- Ladies and Gentlemen of the Communication Service of UFHB;
- Distinguished Drone Professionals of CI Drone and Kami companies;
- Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of the Civil Society Organizations;
- Ladies and Gentlemen Students;
- Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press;

The ceremony was marked by five speeches. They are:
- Words of welcome from Mr. TIA Lazare, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the JS Drone 2020, who expressed his personal gratitude and that of the whole GeoRESBIO and IGT Team to the distinguished Authorities and to the illustrious guests for their effective presence at the ceremony, despite their extremely busy agenda, a sign of the particular interest they give to the development of science, to technological innovations and more particularly to the issue of drones applied to scientific research. He then gave a brief presentation of the JS Drone, stressing its objectives and expectations;
- Speech by Mr. Atta Koffi Lazare, representing the President of UFHB, who expressed his warm thanks and welcomed the illustrious guests who kindly sacrificed their time to be present at the ceremony. He maintained that the University Authorities will spare no effort to give their moral support and institutional backing to the JS Drone;
- Technical presentation by Mr. Jebbar Marouane, a drone Professional, who introduced the drones in their diversity, technical characteristics and capabilities to carry out scientific research operations. He presented opportunities and new jobs offered by drones;
- Scientific presentation by Mr. Dibi N'da Hyppolite, Associate Professor, who showed the advantages of drones based on a comparative study on the use of drones in scientific research. He made a request to ANAC asking to put in place appropriate regulations for the use of drones in the field of scientific research which is part of public utility;
- Address by Mr. Dion Simplice, representing the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), who maintained that the Ministry agrees to support the JS Drone for the promotion of research and, consequently, of Ivorian researchers. He closed his speech by officially launching the first edition of the Scientific Days of Drones in the Tropics of Africa.
The JS Drone ceremony ended with a group photo session, a cocktail party and a drone flight demonstration by Mr. Seyyed Mehdi Mirfeizi, a drone professional.