On Hosting Innovation Prize for Africa
Correspondent | Monday January 25, 2016 15:45
This year Botswana celebrates 50 years of independence, which have been characterised by its long term vision to evolve from a resource economy to a knowledge economy.
During these 50 years of independence, Botswana has developed strategies with key policies that will take us beyond our mineral endowments and to shape our country into a knowledge economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to share with you the policy framework for Science Technology and Innovation in Botswana for which the Innovation Prize for Africa squarely resonates with.
Our objective in hosting this milestone awards is that Botswana is now laying its strong future foundations in Science Technology and Innovation through a number of key interventions including the BIH.
The Government of Botswana developed the first Science and Technology Policy in 1998.
This was followed by the establishment of the Ministry of Communications Science and Technology in 2003, with the mandate to establish strategies for harnessing Science Technology and Innovation for economic development.
A strategic blueprint, the Botswana National Research Science and Technology Plan (BNRST) document, laying the foundations for an implementation strategy for STI was completed in 2005. This identified key areas to focus research and innovation aligned to the then existing research and development institutes.
Under the current National Science Technology and Innovation Policy of 2012, and its implementation plan there is a specific provision for setting up appropriate administrative structures, research and development funding instruments and strategic projects.
Recently government took bold steps to establish new institutions such as Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Research institutes like Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), the University of Botswana’s new teaching Hospital, all of which are strategic initiatives to promote research, technology transfer and innovation with commercial emphasis and relevance to Botswana.
The government is also facilitating creation of synergies among government, academia, private sector, industry and businesses through the BIH, a science and technology park initiative now underway.
Commercialisation of research and innovation is essential for economic growth.
However it is also requires funding: “Researchers burn money to generate knowledge and Business burns knowledge to generate money”. Therefore, commercialisation of new innovations is part of our national strategies to economic growth and employment creation.
With this synopsis of the policy setting for STI, Government is facilitating for policies that support commercialisation of indigenous knowledge and intellectual property protection to ensure that grassroots innovations are included in the commercialisation drive.
Botswana’s nomination and subsequent decision to award the bid to host the IPA awards this year does not come as a surprise because we have provided all the necessary foundations to enable innovation to thrive in Botswana. We remain committed to supporting innovators to reach greater heights by facilitating for development of a robust national system of innovation (NSI).
The hosting of the IPA awards will allow Botswana to showcase the epitome of innovation in Africa here in Gaborone. The event will allow local innovators, partners, inventors and the general public to appreciate Africa level innovations and their funding framework while instilling and motivating our innovators.
The hosting of this momentous event will have an immense impact on building a culture of innovation and re –igniting linkages between public, private and academic organisations.
I would like to thank the Africa Innovation Foundation for having seen it fit for Botswana to host these awards this year. Please accept our sincere gratitude and be assured that we shall put together a great effort to ensure that the fifth Innovation Prize for Africa 2016 here in Gaborone becomes a success.
These celebrations shall also mark our 50th anniversary celebrations and the beginning of a new era which embraces knowledge and rewards innovation for competitiveness.
I look forward to welcome Africa to Botswana this June to celebrate and interact with the true innovators of our continent, “Innovations made in Africa for Africans”PULA!
*Dikagiso B. Mokotedi is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology.