Could Botswana be a regional digital living lab for tech?
DR MATLHOGONOLO MONGWA-MOUWANE | Monday February 17, 2025 15:11
And if so, what would that mean for its future? These are the questions the new government should consider as it charts its next chapter.
A unique opportunity for digital experimentation
Botswana’s potential as a digital living lab rests on several key attributes. Its relatively small population offers a controlled environment for testing new technologies, whilst its history of stable governance and strategic policymaking provides a solid foundation on which to build. Imagine a scenario where international tech companies are invited to pilot cutting-edge innovations from AI-driven healthcare diagnostics to data-optimised agricultural practices within Botswana’s borders. In such a controlled yet dynamic setting, these companies could refine their solutions using real-world data, all whilst contributing to national development.
An illustrative example comes from a recent benchmarking exercise Kalafhi undertook at Harvard’s teaching hospital Mass General, Mayo Clinic, and Cedars-Sinai where in one of the hospitals, an AI-powered predictive hospital disease management system was under evaluation. The system, designed to forecast disease outcomes such as cancer risk, demonstrated significant variability in its accuracy across different ethnic groups.
This disparity underscored a key challenge: even advanced AI algorithms may yield inconsistent results when applied to diverse populations. Botswana’s unique demographic profile could provide a valuable testing ground for these technologies. By enabling companies to recalibrate and fine-tune their predictive models in an environment that reflects regional demographic characteristics, Botswana could help ensure that digital health solutions and other AI applications are both accurate and equitable.
The economic promise: A hypothetical windfall
Whilst the idea remains in the realm of possibility, the economic implications are tantalising. Should Botswana succeed in attracting international tech investments conservatively estimated at between P2.2 and P3.3 billion annually the cumulative benefits could be monumental. Over a decade, such an influx could potentially translate into several tens of billions of pulas in additional economic activity.
The benefits of this digital transformation could extend far beyond direct foreign investment: Job Creation and Skill Development: A surge in tech-related projects would likely spawn a new generation of high-skill jobs in sectors ranging from cybersecurity to data science. This transformation could help Botswana nurture a homegrown tech talent pool, reducing reliance on external expertise.
Sectoral Advancements: Digital solutions could revolutionise traditional sectors. For example, AI and predictive analytics might enhance healthcare delivery by optimising patient care and resource allocation, whilst data-driven insights in agriculture could lead to more sustainable practices and improved yields.
Multiplier Effects: The economic ripple effect from such investments through increased consumer spending, higher tax revenues, and improvements in public services could further boost national GDP and contribute to overall economic resilience.
These projections, though hypothetical, underline an essential point: the digital revolution represents a potential economic windfall that Botswana cannot afford to overlook.
Leapfrogging regional competitors: A strategic advantage
Botswana’s geographic and economic context offers a distinct competitive edge. Whilst some of its regional counterparts continue to grapple with entrenched legacy systems and slow-moving bureaucracies, Botswana has the potential to pivot quickly. By adopting a regulatory sandbox approach creating controlled environments where international tech companies can safely test and refine their products the new government could turn Botswana into a hub of innovation.
This agile, forward-thinking model would allow Botswana to leapfrog its regional competitors by: Demonstrating Modern Governance: Quick adaptations and regulatory innovations could position Botswana as a model of modern, responsive governance.
Attracting Global Attention: Successful pilot projects might draw further international partnerships and investments, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation and growth.
Building Regional Leadership: If Botswana becomes synonymous with digital innovation, it could set the stage for the country to assume a leadership role in Africa’s broader digital transformation journey.
Building the digital infrastructure of tomorrow
For this vision to move from possibility to reality, significant investments in digital infrastructure are imperative. The new government must prioritise establishing a robust, nationwide digital network that is both accessible and affordable.
Nationwide Connectivity: By treating high-speed internet as a public utility, Botswana can ensure that even remote communities are integrated into the digital ecosystem. Investments in fiber-optic networks, 5G technology, and rural broadband are critical steps toward this goal.
Data Centres and Cloud Infrastructure: Creating secure, scalable data centres is essential for handling the increased digital load. These centres would serve as regional hubs for data processing, ensuring that Botswana can support both local innovations and international tech pilots.
Public-private partnerships could play a pivotal role here, combining governmental oversight with the expertise and efficiency of global tech firms.
Cultivating a tech-savvy workforce
The success of a digital living lab hinges on the availability of a skilled workforce. Botswana’s new government should consider investing heavily in education and training programmes that emphasise STEM, coding, AI, and data analytics.
Education and Vocational Training: Integrating digital literacy into school curricula and establishing specialised vocational programmes can prepare the next generation for a tech-centric economy. International Partnerships: Collaborations with global tech institutions and corporations can facilitate knowledge transfer and foster a culture of innovation. Initiatives like scholarships, internships, and faculty exchanges could accelerate the development of local expertise.
Such investments in human capital are crucial for creating a sustainable digital ecosystem that benefits both local communities and international stakeholders.
Policy Reforms: Balancing Innovation and Regulation
A digital living lab necessitates a regulatory framework that both encourages innovation and safeguards public interests. The new government should consider a series of policy reforms to create an environment conducive to digital experimentation:
Regulatory Sandboxes: These frameworks would allow international tech companies to test new technologies in a controlled setting, free from the constraints of overly stringent regulations.
Streamlined Bureaucracy: Simplifying processes for business registration, intellectual property rights, and data sharing could attract startups and established tech firms alike.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: As digital activities expand, robust legal frameworks to protect citizens’ data and ensure cybersecurity are paramount. Modernising existing laws to keep pace with technological advances should be a top priority.
Internet as a Public Good: Ensuring that the internet is accessible and affordable for all is not only a matter of equity but also a catalyst for broad-based digital innovation.
These policy shifts would create an environment where technology can flourish without compromising national security or public trust.
A vision for the future: A call to actionThe prospect of transforming Botswana into a digital living lab for international tech companies is not yet a reality but it is a vision with immense potential. For the new government, this is a call to reimagine Botswana’s future and embrace a bold strategy that leverages technology as a catalyst for national development.
By inviting global tech companies to pilot their innovations, Botswana could unlock new economic opportunities, develop a highly skilled workforce, and position itself as a regional leader in digital transformation. The steps required are significant from overhauling digital infrastructure to enacting forward-thinking policy reforms but the potential rewards are equally substantial.
As the digital revolution gathers pace globally, the question is not whether Botswana can join the race, but whether it is willing to take the necessary leaps.
The blueprint is there: with strategic investments, agile governance, and a commitment to innovation, Botswana could indeed become a vibrant testing ground for international tech companies a digital living lab that redefines what is possible for emerging economies.
For a nation poised on the brink of transformative change, the time to act is now.
The new government has a unique opportunity to chart a course toward a digitally empowered future one where Botswana is not merely a participant in the global tech arena, but a pioneering force leading the way into the next generation of innovation.
*Dr Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane is a proprietor of Kalafhi Medical Center in Gaborone