Research fund due for establishment

Baboki Kayawe | Thursday October 27, 2016 16:04

The planned fund stems from the establishment of the Directorate of Research and Technology, whose draft bill awaits finalisation and Parliament enactment. 

In the draft NDP, government says adequate capacity of the fund would be paramount to maximising its benefits.

As a result, the draft NDP 11 says a fund to be administered by the Directorate would be put in place.

“The draft Operational Manual that outlines the funding instruments has already been drafted. Furthermore, other players in the National System of Innovation will play their role effectively,” reads the draft.

The draft NDP also envisages a new Academy of Science as well as the National Technology Transfer Office, which are expected to strengthen the National System of Innovation (NSI).  There are plans to scale up the Human Resource Development Council, as well as bring all education and training sector research initiatives under it.

Moreover, there are plans to promote indigenous knowledge as “part of our research and innovation in the country across all sectors to ensure we remain relevant in the globalised world”.

This would enable production of local products and services using local resources and raw materials to sustainably diversify the economy, says the document.