BIH to establish Govt data centre
Keikantse Lesemela | Thursday March 12, 2015 18:00
When Presenting the committee of supply speech recently, the Minister of Infrastructure Science and Technology, Nonofo Molefhi said BIH had forged a partnership with the Department of Information Technology to build an integrated Government Data Centre within the Science and Technology park in Gaborone park on turnkey basis. “BIH continue to scale up existing strategic partnerships to foster technology entrepreneurship and innovation in identified priority sectors. A project committee has been instituted to oversee this strategic facility,” he said. These partnerships include Southern African Innovation Support Programme (SAIS), Technology Transfer Office, Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC), Clean Tech Centre, and First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC).
Current innovation support initiatives are focused on the creation of local ICT content and linkages, the construction of a Solar Testing and Demonstration Facility to promote the wider use of solar technology. Molefhi said the ministry is in the process of strengthening coordination and monitoring of the Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) in an effort to ensure its contribution to diversification of the economy.
RSTI Policy of 2011 provides the basis and guidance for developing the foundational programmes on which research and innovation will be built. “We have also completed the drafting of the indigenous Knowledge Systems Policy and are currently consulting at a strategic and policy level,” said Molefhi.
BIH is in the process of constructing the iconic building, which will accommodate private investors. The building is expected to catalyse capacity for innovation in key sectors and is scheduled to be completed in July 2016. “My ministry has appointed a Board of Trustees to oversee the management of the Innovation Fund. This fund aims to provide seed and early stage funding to innovators and technology oriented ventures. The fund will be operationalised during financial year 2015/16,” stated the minister.
BIH has furthermore, developed a land use plan, which provides a holistic framework for the integrated development of the Science and Technology Park encompassing extensive private sector participation. The programme to attract local and international innovation companies is being implemented based on the existing incentives framework. Thus far, one of the strategic partners, Conceretol has started the development of a satellite communication facility.
Furthermore, with the efforts to develop research and innovation Botswana Institute of Research, Science and Technology (BITRI) is driving the mineral beneficiation programme. It has currently opened collaboration talks with Debswana, BCL and Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR).
Molefhi also highlighted that BITRI has also been selected as the Lead Institution for a UNDP /GEF project on developing small-scale and medium-scale bio-methane plants in the Southern District. The other notable programme launched by BITRI is The Carbon to Liquid (CTL) laboratory scale. Pilot plants have since been installed on the BITRI Satellite campus and BITRI will begin its coal research in collaboration with Pyro Carbon Energy (PCE) of Canada.