Botswana, SA strengthen cross border innovation
staff writer | Wednesday August 19, 2026 06:00
Recently, agencies from the two nations namely Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) and South Africa's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to show commitment to the vision. TIA CEO, Titus Mathe, described the agreement as an important step towards advancing the Southern African Development Community's industrialisation agenda. He said combining the expertise, resources and innovation ecosystems of the two institutions would create new opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs to develop globally competitive technologies while addressing pressing societal challenges.
'We are laying the foundation for an integrated cross-border innovation economy that promotes sustainable growth, industrialisation and job creation,' Mathe added. For his part BDIH CEO, Kabo Phetlhu, noted that the collaboration reinforces Botswana's commitment to regional innovation and technology-driven economic diversification. He said innovation should not be limited by national borders, adding that the partnership would strengthen collaboration between the two countries while creating a more supportive environment for technology development, commercialisation and entrepreneurship. According to Phetlhu, the partnership is expected to unlock new investment opportunities, accelerate technology adoption and contribute to Africa's digital and industrial transformation while supporting inclusive economic growth across the region.
The partnership follows the renewal of the 2026 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the governments neighbouring countries and is expected to create new opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, start-ups and technology-focused small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both countries. A major outcome of the agreement is the establishment of a Joint South African-Botswana Innovation Fund, which will serve as a cross-border investment platform supporting collaborative projects involving researchers, innovators, start-ups and SMEs. The Fund will also explore mechanisms for mobilising resources from regional and continental institutions to finance the commercialisation of high-impact technologies across Africa.
Additionally, the partnership seeks to strengthen Africa's innovation ecosystem by supporting the development of technologies that address local challenges while improving the continent's global competitiveness. It will also enhance cross-border market access by connecting technology enterprises with investors, customers, corporations, regulators, research institutions, technology hubs and development partners in both countries. The BDIH and TIA will collaborate on a range of strategic initiatives, including joint technology innovation programmes, challenge competitions, pilot projects and technology validation activities designed to support researchers, innovators and industry partners.
Priority areas include green and clean technologies such as renewable energy, climate-smart solutions, circular economy innovations, waste-to-value technologies and low-carbon industrial solutions that contribute to sustainable development and economic diversification. The agreement also focuses on agricultural technology by promoting climate-smart farming, food security, post-harvest systems, bioeconomy innovations and the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property linked to Indigenous Knowledge Systems. In addition, the partnership will promote innovation in the mining sector through support for smart mining technologies, mine safety, mineral processing, mine rehabilitation, digital mine systems and critical mineral beneficiation.
Digital transformation will also be prioritised through the advancement of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation, digital platforms, data-driven services and digital enterprise solutions. Both organisations will further collaborate on technology transfer, intellectual property management, incubation, business acceleration, investor linkages and institutional capacity building through technical exchanges, mentoring and specialised training programmes.