Gaborone has suffered the growing pains of a
developing city but the city lacks character, poise and the sophistication
found in the neighbouring capital cities of Pretoria, Harare, Lusaka and
Windhoek. This scenario is exacerbated by the soaring cost of living and crime
statistics, questionable school rankings, a diminished career and occupational
outlook and persistent power and water cuts.
Proponents of Space Management state that space affects ones mood,
well-being and productivity. Could Gaborone’s uninspiring social and economic
spaces and infrastructure networks that do not adequately cater for the
wellbeing of citizens and the aspirations of investors be the reason the country’s Gross National Happiness
index and productivity levels are so low?
The latest World Happiness Report ranks Botswana 146th happiest nation out of 156 countries in
the world. The country is number 35 out of 44 countries ranked in Africa. On
productivity, the country is ranked 74th out of 144 economies by The
Global Competitiveness Index of 2014 -2015.
Gaborone however is a resilient
city. With a colourful rags to riches history, the city is fighting back to reclaim its past
glory and position itself for the next phase of development towards the
emerging knowledge-economy. Once the seat of government for one of the poorest
countries in the world - with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the
late 1960s - the city has been in the driving seat of efforts that have seen Botswana
transform itself into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, now
boasting a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of
about $16,400 per year as of 2013. Its high gross national income (by some estimates
the fourth-largest in Africa) gives the country a modest standard of living and
the highest Human Development Index of continental Sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the country’s strategies to address challenges of competitiveness, attract
foreign direct investment, improve productivity, stimulate economic growth and create
jobs, is to develop an innovation ecosystem that will move the country from a
resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one. The creation of spaces that
are conducive for business and use technology and communication to create more
efficient agglomerations in terms of competitiveness, innovation, environment,
energy, utilities, governance, and delivery of services to the citizen is embodied in Science and
Technology Parks.
Science and
Technology Parks are sources of entrepreneurship, talent, and economic
competitiveness, and are key elements of the infrastructure supporting the
growth of today's global knowledge economy. By providing a location in which
government, research institutions and private companies cooperate and
collaborate, Science and Technology Parks create environments that foster
collaboration and innovation. They enhance development, skills transfer,
commercialization of technology and advance knowledge.
Construction of Botswana’s first Science and Technology Park, Botswana
Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park is set to change Gaborone’s skyline
and boost the city’s rankings as a conducive business environment and desirable
place to live. Construction of the park commenced on 11st August, 2014 and
is scheduled to be completed in June, 2016 in line to be commissioned as part
of the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations on 30th
September, 2016. The parks construction is a major national project that
represents a significant 1 Billion Pula investment in the city’s infrastructure
development.
The Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology
Park is strategically located on a 57 hectare site, near the Sir Seretse Khama
International Airport and adjacent to the Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone’s
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development node of
Block 8 area. The park is an ideal location for technology-driven and
knowledge-intensive businesses to establish themselves, develop and compete in
regional and global markets.
The focal point of the Hub is to provide
state-of-the-art buildings and facilities to attract domestic, regional and
global companies to locate business as well as research and development
activities within the park, and promote technology-based innovation and
entrepreneurship. When the facilities in the park are fully developed, the
Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park will consist of world class
services including high quality road infrastructure, street lighting,
telecommunications infrastructure with high capacity international connectivity
and secured power and water, as well as professional business and technology
transfer services.
Its central icon buildings are a world class, iconic
masterpiece of architecture designed by Shop Architecture of New York whose
designs won the 2013 Auto Desk Design Awards. The building is regarded as one
of Africa’s pioneering ‘green’ structures. According to the World Green
Building Council, “Green building (also known as green construction or
sustainable building) refer to a structure and using process that is
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life
cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation,
and demolition.” This requires close cooperation of the design team, the
architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green
Building practice expands and complements the classical building design
concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.
The Park offers prime real estate products and services. With 24,000m2
of commercial development space, the icon buildings will accommodate investors
and tenants within sectors of Biotechnology, Information Communication
Technology (ICT), Energy and Environment, and Mining Technology sectors, as
well as an Entrepreneurship Development Centre commonly known as an Incubation
Centre. The buildings offer flexible
rental office and laboratory spaces ranging from 50m2 1000m2
for rent.
The central icon building entails a multi-use development with shared
amenities within a garden Hub concept and an International amphitheater meant
to host significant international events. The building also provides modern
high quality premises that are easily adaptable with plug and play shared
facilities such as meeting, board and training rooms, restaurants, coffee
shops, gyms and wellness centers, postal services, banking and ATM services, and
many other complementary services that provide work, live and play type of
environment within the Science and Technology Park. Included in the mix is unfurnished
standard office space with electricity and data connections as well as services
such as common area cleaning, maintenance, security, and administration within
a secure business and networking environment.
For businesses that would like to put up their own buildings, the Botswana
Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park offers land for long term lease or
co-development with an additional 36 hectares for light industrial purposes. The park has 40 plots of varying sizes
available for lease. The plot sizes range from 3,000 – 16,000m2
which can be consolidated or subdivided and the company provides plot
development guidelines.
Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen says, “In
addition to developing superior, world class science and technology park
buildings, Botswana Innovation Hub is involved in networking, advocacy and
capacity building activities that support innovation.” Boshwaen is confident that Gaborone’s new
landmark is set to change the city’s ambiance and the dynamics and business
culture by offering a unique platform for scientific, technological and
indigenous knowledge-based innovations.
