BITRI urged to foster entrepreneurial spirit

Keikantse Lesemela | Monday December 15, 2014 16:22

Speaking at the launch of two new local technological innovations last week, Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) CEO, Maria Machailo-Ellis urged BITRI to adopt entrepreneurship in its outlook and foster greater innovation.

The two new innovations are a solar powered streetlight called Seding and a mobile application for the popular traditional Morabaraba game.

“An entrepreneurial spirit can boost technological innovations and solutions,” she said.

“BITRI must adopt a new business perspective in order to cultivate the best innovative ideas.

“BOCCIM is ready to support BITRI in advocating for commitment of resources by government towards research and development.”

Machailo Ellis further said it was important for BITRI to find effective ways to market its products, in order to transform its solutions into productive business ideas.

“For a good idea to translate into business productivity, it must be combined with management capability, financial resources, marketing capability and access to external markets,” she noted. 

Machailo-Ellis also noted that BOCCIM welcomed the formation of BITRI because it was one of the ways in which the country could be economically successful. She noted that successful economies generate new technologies in information technology, electronics and energy, adding that Botswana could not afford to be left behind in applied research.

She said BITRI should spearhead the review of the technology policy, which was adopted by government ten years ago, and assess its current relevance.

“If the policy is somehow overtaken by the dynamic and ever-changing world of innovation, it is incumbent up on BITRI and BOCCIM to work towards an enabling policy,” she added.

Machailo-Ellis added that BITRI should conduct a national outreach programme to sensitise Batswana on how innovation could add value to individuals’ livelihoods, and business competitiveness.

The outreach campaign, she said, would result in innovation initiatives that would also culminate in award-winning ideas from all over the country and earn funding for commercialisation.