Kago Kgosietsile - The Sturdy Hand At The Core of Botswana Innovation Hub’s Service Delivery

Kago Kgosietsile

Science and Technology Parks are inherently networked physical places that are managed in a manner designed to support university-industry and government collaboration with the intent of creating high technology economic development and advancing knowledge. Mainstream business literature defines networking as a socioeconomic business activity by which business people and entrepreneurs meet to form business relationships and to recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities, share information and seek potential partners for ventures. Networking helps business people to build their social capital.

“Business networking is an effective low-cost marketing method for developing sales opportunities and contacts, based on referrals and introductions - either face-to-face at meetings and gatherings, or by other contact methods such as phone, email, and increasingly social and business networking websites,” says world-renowned author, marketing expert, start-up advisor, and public speaker, Porter Gale.

In her book, Your Network Is Your Net Worth: Unlock the Hidden Power of Connections for Wealth, Success, and Happiness in the Digital Age, Gale asserts that a strong network is like money in the bank. “Networks can help one build visibility, connect with influencers, and open up doors for new opportunities. Building and nurturing a network is one of the most powerful things one can do to support their career advancement or build business growth,” she states.

Gale goes on to say that businesses function when they have customers or clients, and businesses survive and expand when they have good client service. Customer service is an extremely important part of maintaining ongoing client relationships, which are key to continuing revenue. Gale defines good client service as largely a matter of placing the customer first and making business decisions that allow the company to respond to market changes and provide customers with the best service possible.

At Botswana Innovation Hub, all employees are expected to contribute towards aquiring, enhancing, and retaining the company’s clients. However, the role of fostering business networks and handling the wide variety of customer inquiries, providing issue resolution, client communication, and overall customer satisfaction rests with Kago Kgosietsile. Buried somewhere in the makeup of Botswana Innovation Hub cadre is this unsung heroine who executes her duties quietly, calmly and diligently. Kago is the Client Relations Officer at Botswana Innovation Hub. She is essentially responsible for managing and protecting the relationship between the company and its clients.

Botswana Innovation Hub is incorporated as a company to develop and manage the country’s first Science and Technology Park. One of the company’s strategic objectives is to promote networking and collaboration between academia, public and private sectors in order to enhance innovation capacity. The company strives, “To serve the people of Botswana through a creative and networked innovation system which supports the goals of strengthening knowledge, productivity, competitiveness and economic diversification, leading to more resilient wealth creation, while being mindful to protect the environment.”  

Botswana Innovation Hub is a member driven company which offers a suite of benefits for eligible registered members. The benefits include a concessionary 15% corporate tax rate; access to a range of technology transfer and commercialistation services; access to a technology entrepreneurship development programme; eligibility to import skills and personnel under special dispensation and networking, research and technical collaboration opportunities locally and internationally. 

Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen says, “Networks and collaborations are the DNA of the company.  They form the fabric of Botswana Innovation Hub as they help business people connect with other managers and entrepreneurs to further each other’s business interests by forming mutually beneficial business relationships.” Boshwaen goes on to say as a part a pioneering outfit and leader in the economic partnerships that drive development, good client, or customer, service should be the hallmark of Botswana Innovation Hub.

Since joining Botswana Innovation Hub in July 2012, Kago has worked tirelessly setting up processes and procedures that coordinate all registration and Botswana Innovation Hub member support activities. Her duties include developing and implementing best practices for registration and member support in accordance with strategic and operational plans for Botswana Innovation Hub. “I am responsible for processing applications and ensuring effective registration of qualifying entities as well as coordinating, monitoring and evaluating registered entities, including conducting annual site visits and interviews to ensure compliance to registration requirements,” she says.  

“Building and managing strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure collaborative support in providing an efficient and effective support network for member entities and continuous review and research on services rendered to members as well as identifying areas of improvements to service offering, forms part of my remit,” she states. Kago goes on to say she is a people’s person and derives immense pleasure and pride in her job which entails providing support to members and facilitating communication between members and internal departments and arranging membership network events working with the Cluster Development and Marketing departments.

Over and above all this, Kago liaises with the broad membership of the International Association of Science Parks and Arears of Innovation (IASP) which Botswana Innovation Hub is a member of, and conducts research in order to continuously improve processes and procedures for registration and member support initiatives. She facilitates administration of labour and tax dispensation applications and maintains accurate and current databases and client files.

Among the achievements Kago prides herself with is her facilitation of the growth of Botswana Innovation Hub membership base from 17 fully registered members to a total 82 incubator, network and fully registered members. She has also developed and implemented a Member Performance Monitoring Tool, developed and implemented a Registration Manual including supporting tools and templates and developed and implemented interim Client Relationship Management database.

Kago completed her Cambridge O’ Levels certification at Maru A Pula School in 1998. She went on to pursue an Advanced Certificate in Personal Computer Applications from NIIT in 1999 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma from United World Collage of the America West in 2001. In 2006 Kago graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from Rhodes University in South Africa and went on to acquire a Post Graduate Certificate in Information Systems Management from University of Liverpool in 2011 before crowning it all with an MSc in Information Systems from Kingston University in the UK the same year.  

With a quiet, unassuming but sure-footed and foresighted demeanor Kago is alive to the omnipresence of the proverbial glass ceiling women face in the corporate world. “While we all get equal opportunity, it is an undeniable fact that women have to put in twice as much effort to make it in the corporate world,” she says. A doting hands on mother of two, she says mothers face enormous challenges juggling parenting with career development. Conversely she brings her motherly instinct to her role of nurturing relationships at the country’s cradle of scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based innovation.

 “Women in the workplace face very strong cultural and career stereotypes that stifle their professional and personal growth. It is a hectic balancing game for us but I’m blessed with a strong role model in my mother and the support of my family,” she says. Kago is thankful to her parents for instilling the virtues of hard work ethic and integrity in her and her siblings. “The workplace gives one the sense that you can’t have both family and career and that you have to sacrifice one for the other but with focus, dedication and good support, the delicate work, live balancing act is possible,” she states.

Kago’s support for women empowerment is however qualified, she would rather women earn their place in the sun through merit and not through tokenism. She acknowledges that the empowerment of women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities but cautions against token appointments of women to positions of leadership.

Kago is a consummate result oriented, self-driven, team player who sets high standards and approaches her work with a calm, gracious but palpable gusto, passion and tenacity. She takes pride in her work and goes beyond the call of duty to deliver exceptional client service and offer them value beyond just services, “Because success in this industry is about much more than services — it’s about developing great business relationships. Customer service is the process of ensuring customer satisfaction with a great service that ensures customer retention. Retaining our clients helps expand our formal business networks and gives us a larger and more dynamic pool of members who meet to share information, exchange business leads and make referrals to fellow members,” she declares.

Asked what attributes are required for the pivotal role she plays at Botswana Innovation Hub, she responds, “One has to be accessible, patient, knowledgeable and courteous to do well in this role. Strong peoples skills which help harness interdisciplinary efforts to solve problems is another important attribute of a successful customer service representative.”  And what motivates her to get up every morning and give it her all? “This is certainly one of the best jobs ever. It allows me to be part of a dynamic team of enthusiastic professionals who are building the country’s first science and technology park. However, for me, the technology entrepreneurship development programme is the most important aspect of the Botswana Innovation Hub business model because it develops young people. Working with young innovators and entrepreneurs is divine. Who doesn’t want to work with young, animated, forward thinking, game changers? The energy, creativity and zeal of the next generation of innovators, thinkers and entrepreneurs that surrounds me here thoroughly excites me. Surely some of that gets to rub off onto me…..” she quips.

Kago ends the interview by encouraging the girl child and young women who want to enter the corporate world to work hard and stay focused if they want to break through the corporate glass ceiling. With a finger on the pulse of Botswana Innovation Hub’s clients, Kago has intimate knowledge of its client’s welfare and with her formidable networks, smart and hard work ethic, passion and commitment, attitude and aptitude, the young lady has positioned herself well to ascend to the next generation of Botswana Innovation Hub’s executive leadership (Exco). Who knows, we have the future head honcho in the making here!

“I Really Don’t Want To Say This, But I Have To Say Goodbye, Godspeed…!”

Former Permanent Secretary in the erstwhile Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology (MIST)

Dikagiso Mokotedi

Former Permanent Secretary in the erstwhile Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology (MIST), Dikagiso Mokotedi first came into contact with the concept note for the establishment of Botswana Innovation Hub while he worked for the state company responsible for advising government on privatization strategies as well as implementation of privatization, the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency (PEEPA) in 2009. His first thoughts of the proposed establishment of the country’s first Science and Technology Park was delight, admiration and pride at the forward thinking, game changing ideas that were being put forward to propel the country to the next level of economic development.

A registered Architect with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Architecture from Birmingham Polytechnic (UK) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the University of Central England, Mokotedi was also awestruck by the designs of the iconic central buildings of the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park. Designed by New York based SHoP Architects, the design concept for the central building is framed around two distinct geographic and topographic features that are culturally and environmentally significant to Botswana, the dunes and the delta. 

The embodied form and inherent characteristics of the dune and the delta were significant drivers for the design of the world class, iconic masterpiece of architecture. “The dune inspired the hardscape patterns of the roof, while the oases of the delta inspired moments of relief in the building and the relationship between the dune and the delta inspired the barred form of the building, weaving together the hardscape and moments of relief to create central oases within the Science and Technology Park,” says partner at SHoP Architects, William Sharples.

The state-of-the-art designs won the prestigious 2013 Autodesk Design Awards which are the epitome global design competition for architects, engineers and digital artists.  

As fate would have it, Mokotedi would come into direct contact with Botswana Innovation Hub when he was appointed Director of the Department of Building and Engineering Services in MIST in 2009. He later ascended to Permanent Secretary of MIST in 2012. As director and later head of the ministry responsible for the establishment and oversight of Botswana Innovation Hub, it fell on Mokotedi’s shoulders to deliver the country’s first Science and Technology Park and ensure that it delivered on its crucial mandate - a responsibility he took with passion and determination.

“I have been involved with Botswana Innovation Hub from conception through to construction of the Science and Technology Park and implementation of its projects and programmes and this has been an exciting and fulfilling chapter of my professional life,” says the result oriented and diligent worker who boasts impressive results at the helm of the ministry responsible for overseeing the construction and maintenance of national infrastructure.

The establishment of Botswana Innovation Hub drives a three ponged national strategic goal of economic diversification, job creation and moving the country towards a knowledge-based economy. The company aims to develop advanced science and technology innovation capital and activities in the country by attracting innovators, channeling the requisite support services and conditioning the investment climate. At the center of this work is the attractive world class Science and Technology Park which offers a unique platform for scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based innovation.

Mokotedi views his role as government’s custodian of the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park as the architect of the country’s knowledge-based economy. It was therefore with mixed emotions of pride in the achievements made so far and detachment, loneliness and grief of the empty nest syndrome when Mokotedi called on Botswana Innovation Hub management and staff to bid them farewell following the re-organisation and re-designation of government ministries and portfolio responsibilities that has resulted in the dissolution of MIST.

Under the new arrangement, Botswana Innovation Hub has been relocated to a new Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology led by Dr Alfred Madigele and assisted by Fidelis Molao. Mokotedi and the former Minister of MIST, Nonofo Molefhi have been moved to the new Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development.

In his farewell address, Mokotedi could not hide his disappointment and the withdrawal prangs of the empty nest syndrome. He said while it was hard for him to let go, he was grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the establishment of Botswana Innovation Hub and accepted that it was perhaps time for others to take over and carry on with the work.

“I am not good with goodbyes but now is the time to thank you all for your hard work and dedication in getting Botswana Innovation Hub to where it is today. You built it from zero to the colossal iconic beauty it is becoming with the exciting and empowering programmes you are running here,” he said. Mokotedi said the journey so far has not been easy but with focus and dedication, a lot has been achieved.   

He said that even though he will no longer be directly at the helm of establishment of the Science and Technology Park, it is a project he remains passionate about and pledged that he will always be available to lend a helping hand to Botswana Innovation Hub. For his part, Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen thanked Mokotedi for the cordial working relationship the company enjoyed under his stewardship. He said a lot was achieved because of the forward thinking and pragmatic leadership of the Permanent Secretary. He went on to confirm Mokotedi as A Friend of Botswana Innovation Hub for his contribution to the establishment of the Science and Technology Park.

Botswana Innovation Hub Set To Become A Regional Technology Commercialization Centre

In the picture (Left to Right): Former Minister - Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and current Director in the Department of Business and Technology Management KAIST Professor Munkee Choi, Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen and Director of Global IT Technology Program (ITTP),KAIST Prof. Jae Jeung Rho.

Botswana Innovation Hub, Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boshwaen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the company become a regional technology commercialistation center. Boshwaen signed the MoU with the Director of Global Commercialization Centre (GCC), Professor Munkee Choi and Director of Global IT Technology Program (ITTP), Professor JaeJeung Rho both from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The MoU which was signed on Monday outlines the three parties’ technical cooperation through shared mutual assistance and promotion of technical cooperation.

Outlined in the MoU is how Botswana Innovation Hub, KAIST GCC and ITTP (IT Technology Program) will work with the National Technology Transfer Office (TTO) resident at the Botswana Innovation Hub to share mutual assistance and promote technical cooperation. The MoU defines technical cooperation as building a cooperative network between Korea and Botswana through the TTO as a regional hub of GCC with the aim of promoting global technology transfer and commercialization.

The envisioned technology transfer and commercialization will be underpinned by technology demand surveys that have been conducted through the TTO. More technology demand surveys have been planned and these will help identify and promote cooperation in Korean or Botswana research, technology and innovation agencies, industries and firms with promising technologies to promote value creation in economies.

The parties further undertake to work towards the development of technology commercialization business models and support business activities for participating companies and agencies to implement and expand partnership opportunities in both Korea and Botswana. They will also jointly conduct conferences, forums, workshops and several other activities that advance knowledge and strengthen human capital relevant to innovation capacity.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Professor Munkee Choi who is also Korea’s Former Minister in the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said “The parties will develop technology commercialization business models and support business activities for participating companies and agencies to implement and expand partnership opportunities in both Korea and Botswana.” 

He said the GCC technology commercialization method entails a three pronged approach with includes Product Localization (PL) where an ICT product or service requires support for the commercialization process in the domestic or foreign market; Co-Project (CP) which seeks for partners with sufficient technical expertise to collaboration in order to commercialize product or service; and Technology Transfer (TT) which imparts technological and intellectual property to further development of products or services.

Speaking on behalf on Botswana Innovation Hub, Boshwaen said Botswana Innovation Hub is incorporated as a company that is developing and will ultimately operate the country’s first Science and Technology Park, “Networks and collaborations between academia, public and private sectors help build a vibrant national innovation ecosystem and we are happy with this latest endorsement as a regional technology commercialistation center.”

The Legacy of IPA 2016 – Enhancing the National Innovation Ecosystem

There is a school of thought that posits that before an economy can transform from being factor driven to an innovation driven economy, it has to pass through not only an industrialization phase but also the second stage of an efficient economy that endeavors to eliminate waste or perform better with less costs. Khumoetsile Kgosidialwa argues that, “Botswana seems to be way ahead of itself and somehow forgetting that the country is a factor driven economy that needs to encourage efficient use of scarce resources before it becomes an innovative economy.”

He contends that, “Botswana cannot be in a position to become an innovation hub before it eliminates unnecessary bureaucracies that create waste and renders the economy inefficient. Fortunately, Botswana’s challenge is not money but how money is used to transform the economy, create jobs and eradicate poverty.”   

The counter argument to the linear approach to a knowledge-based economy observes that innovation itself entails efficient and effective use of resources. Proponents point to the Tiger Economies as examples of economies that leapfrogged the industrial stage of development in their transition to knowledge-based economies. The trajectory of Ireland’s economic development is used to illustrate how the Celtic Tiger transitioned from an agrarian economy to a modern knowledge-based economy in just over half a century.    

Contemporary thought asserts that the old economy paradigm of efficient resource accumulation only will not suffice and may even fail. Instead, intangible assets like human resources and intellectual capital are outstripping traditional assets such as land and labour as the dominant drivers of   growth.

Back home, Botswana managed to defy convention and beat the odds, going against popular post-independent African trends. The country averted the African resource curse following the discovery of diamonds and transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in Africa to become a development success story. 

However, The World Bank report of 2016 states that, “In contrast to the country’s impressive economic growth, good governance and prudent macroeconomic and fiscal management, the country faces high levels of poverty and inequality as well as low human development indicators.”

The slowdown in overseas economies, particularly Asia, has resulted in low commodity prices and a daunting forecast that mineral revenue will continue to decline substantially over the next two decades. The outlook for commodity prices is arguably the worst it has been since the 2008 global economic meltdown, and China’s slow recovery and soaring input costs for domestic commodity extracts is not helping matters.

In an effort to diversify the economy and create a knowledge-based economy, the Government of Botswana established new institutions such as Botswana Innovation Hub, Botswana Institute of Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BUIST) and the University of Botswana’s new teaching Hospital to promote research, technology transfer and innovation.

Botswana Innovation Hub has been set up as an innovative and networked organisation that promotes technology, entrepreneurship and commercialisation on a purpose built Science and Technology Park which will contribute towards diversifying the economy and transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. In growing the national innovation ecosystem, the company in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) hosted the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2016 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) in June, 2016.

The IPA is a flagship program of the AIF which recognizes, rewards and mobilizes African innovators through promotion of home-grown, market-driven solutions that address intractable challenges in agriculture, health and well-being, manufacturing and service industry, ICT’s and environment, energy and water.

“Hosting the award ceremony and celebrating African ingenuity in Gaborone afforded Botswana the opportunity to showcase its commitment to putting innovation at the center of its development strategy,” said Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Honorable Nonofo Molefhi.

For his part Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen said, “Batswana innovators will benefit from the networks, cooperation, collaborations and business opportunities that have been presented by IPA 2016. The awareness, exposure and confidence to participate in the continental competition will embolden local innovators and foster the national innovation ecosystem for years to come.”

Cluster Development Director at Botswana Innovation Hub, Dr Budzanani Tacheba said, “One of the important pre-conditions for the development of the knowledge-based economy is local, regional and international cooperation, IPA 2016 has brought together the right partners around opportunities for impact.”

He went on to say that worldwide, Research and Development do not receive sufficient funding and hosting the IPA 2016 demonstrated the importance to invest in R&D. “Research burns money to produce knowledge and businesses use the knowledge to make money,” he said.

In his keynote address at the prestigious award ceremony, His Excellency the President Lt. Gen. Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said, “We should mark the beginning of a new era, in which we embrace knowledge and rewarding of innovation towards national competitiveness.” The President emphasized that the legacy of the IPA 2016 will be the enhancement of the national innovation ecosystem.

Botswana Innovation Hub - The Journey So Far...

Icon Building

History records four prominent transition stages of the developed world. It all began with the hunter-gatherer societies and progressed to the agrarian economy and later the industrial economy leading up to the latest stage of development in global economic restructuring, the emerging knowledge economy. The trajectory of this development spans thousands of years with the move from hunter-gathering to the age of farming and the dawn of the Industrial Revolution 12,000 years later marking the seminal transitions of human history, lifestyle and wellbeing.  

As a distinction from the agrarian, resource-based or traditional industrial economies, a knowledge economy is considered to be an economy that is essentially driven by the creation, distribution and utilization of knowledge and information. In this respect, the knowledge economy or weightless economy reflects the latest stage of development in the evolution of modern economies, often characterized by an increased use of ICT, globalization, active networking and various forms of innovation.

In a fiercely competitive global economic market, many countries have made structural and strategic shifts that will allow them to leapfrog their economic development to the knowledge economy. The knowledge economy is seen as the way forward to achieve sustainable rapid economic growth and to remain globally competitive and Botswana is among the countries that have placed innovation at the centre of their development strategies.

Following the fairytale economic success since the discovery of diamonds in the post-Independence era, uncertainty in global markets and the bleak prospects for commodity producers prompted the country to seek alternative economic drivers. Botswana Innovation Hub was established as part of the economic game changing ensemble that will nurture creativity and innovation, create new scientific, technological and indigenous-knowledge based business opportunities that generate knowledge-based job opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic development and competitiveness. 

Barely five years since its incorporation as a company, Botswana Innovation Hub has made bold and audacious strides that assert it as a major a major destination for innovation on the African continent. The company has positioned itself as an innovative and networked organization that promotes technology, entrepreneurship and commercialisation on a purpose built Science and Technology Park.

Development of the country’s first Science and Technology Park with state-of-the-art facilities and high caliber end-to-end services is ongoing and construction of the central Icon Building is underway including private sector led development lease agreements and local and international partnerships to build other technical facilities that support innovation activities.

Even before the Science and Technology Park is complete, Botswana Innovation Hub has commenced with the development of advanced science and technology innovation capital and activities that attract innovators, channeling the requisite support services and conditioning the investment climate. The company is building opportunities in tenancy, membership, a globally-connected innovation ecosystem and world-class client services.  

One of the important pre-condition of the development of a knowledge-based economy is local, regional and international cooperation. Botswana Innovation Hub is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) which accords the company the opportunity to network with likeminded organisations across the world. In recognition of the strides the company has made thus far in implementation of the innovation agenda, the company’s CEO Alan Boshwaen was recently unanimously elected President of the Africa Division of the IASP.  

Botswana Innovation Hub has commenced with its core business of providing innovation support programmes essential for nurturing the early stages of start-ups and central for creating a conducive environment that attracts innovative companies and institutions to its Science and Technology Park.

The company established the National Technology Transfer Office (TTO) in partnership with the University of Botswana to address the gap of Intellectual Property (IP) advisory support.  The TTO is responsible for the identification and commercialization of intellectual property arising from research, innovations, indigenous knowledge and technology development. TTO has partnered with National Food Research Technology Centre (NFRTC) on commercialization of indigenous food products.

In creating an environment that allows ideas to take flight, Botswana Innovation Hub established a technology entrepreneurship development programme named, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC). FSVC has partnered with the private sector to provide start-up companies with business mentorship and market access opportunities. The company has been instrumental in assisting start-ups to commercialize their innovations and this has seen some of them win Africa-wide competitions and also gain global attention. 

FSVC has 18 start-up companies enrolled at its Gaborone campus and the innovation capacity building programme has engaged with over 1000 entrepreneurs and innovators. This year FSVC will see its first cohort of companies graduate from the programme.   

Still on technology entrepreneurship development, Botswana Innovation Hub extended its FSVC programme to Selebi Phikwe and partnered with BCL mine to set up the Mining Technology Entrepreneurship Centre (MTEC) to support local supplier development for innovative solution through demand-driven procurement. Currently 9 start-up companies are enrolled at MTEC and have been supported to secure contracts with BCL.  

In response to a World Bank study that revealed that there was need to develop a conducive environment for ICT developers to work on their ideas to turn them into viable products and services before they can be enrolled into a programme such as FSVC for business development support, Botswana Innovation Hub established an ICT Developer Community Programme called, Cyber City Kgotla.  Cyber City Kgotla offers developers technical and entrepreneurial training opportunities and provides them access to developer toolkits through Botswana Innovation Hub partnerships. The programme has enrolled more than 252 members.  

To support new business development in clean environmentally friendly technologies, Botswana Innovation Hub established The Clean-Tech Centre. The Centre is working with partners on various projects including setting up a Solar Test Bed testing and demonstration facility, and a rapid deployment sustainable housing unit based on alternative housing technologies. The company recently donated one of the sustainable housing units to a beneficiary in Khekhenye village in the Kweneng District as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Other Clean-Tech projects include water purification and harvesting technologies and capacity building initiatives.

Botswana Innovation Hub partnered with Microsoft Corporation to establish The Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC). MIC supports capacity building and innovation projects in ICT. MIC in partnership with Microsoft Corporation, University of Pennsylvania, BoFiNet, Global Broadband Solutions, Vista Life Sciences, USAID-NetHope and Ministry of Health has implemented the TV White Space (TVWS) pilot project to pilot affordable last mile connectivity and mHealth. The technology helps deliver telemedicine health programmes through low cost and long range broadband over TVWS.

In working with the right partners around opportunities for impact, Botswana Innovation Hub joined The Southern Africa Support (SAIS) programme which supports a regional innovation system in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). SAIS builds capacity and stimulates operational elements of the National Systems of Innovation (NSI) within and across the four pilot countries, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique. The programme aims to positively contribute to the drive for sustainable economic growth, aid in poverty reduction and support the countries in the development of a knowledge society.

As an innovative and networked organization that supports the establishment of a vibrant National System of Innovation, Botswana Innovation Hub collaborated with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the Africa Innovation Foundation (AIF) to host the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2016 in Gaborone last month. IPA is a landmark program of the AIF, whose purpose is to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalyzing the innovation spirit in Africa. AIF offers several avenues of opportunity for local, national, regional and international growth and exposure to Africa’s next cadre of innovators.

Still on activities that foster strong linkages between government, industry and academia in the promotion of a national innovation ecosystem that form the building blocks of a knowledge-based economy Botswana Innovation Hub continues to participate in national and global activities such as the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), Girls and Women in ICT and the International Development Design Summit (IDDS).  

The company continues to recruit more members, enter into more strategic partnerships and collaborations, business venture matchmaking and foster commercialisation of innovations and technology transfer as it strives to establish a unique platform for a robust national innovation ecosystem.  

Botswana Innovation Hub Donates a House to a Resident of Khekhenye Village in the Kweneng District

Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen, on Tuesday 28^th June, handed over one of the company’s Sustainable Housing Units to Tlhokaina Gabolatlhwe of Khekhenye village in the Kweneng District. Gabolatlhwe’s original dwellings were recently burnt to the ground by an accidental fire.

Boshwaen said the donation of the house was part of the Botswana Innovation Hub’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and a fitting gesture as the country celebrates its 50^th anniversary of independence and the culmination of the national Vision 2016. 

Vision 2016 reflects the national aspirations of Batswana about their long-term future. The national aspirations include those of a Prosperous, Productive and Innovative Nation that is Compassionate, Just and Caring which is also Safe and Secure.   

The Sustainable Housing project is an initiative of the Botswana Innovation Hub’s Clean-Tech programme that seeks alternative housing solutions that have the potential to address the housing challenges that exist in the country using locally available low cost material.

Boshwaen said with a mandate that focuses on technology adoption and diffusion to local communities the company partnered with the IKEA Foundation through a Swedish based NGO called Better Shelter around opportunities for impact. He said, “The project explores the feasibility of the Sustainable Housing Unit concept by deploying pilot units locally and testing their viability through a dedicated Research and Development partnership with local Research and Public institutions.”

Boshwaen said the units offer an alternative housing solution that has the potential to significantly improve the lives of people through its rapid deployment, solar renewable lighting, potential for rain water harvesting and use of local materials as value additions. “The unit demonstrates the use of technology for residential shelter development while taking into account local resources and has potential for a full scale production in the near future,” he said.

He said the units have excellent market viability with potential for the local market including, provision of durable shelter to remote and disadvantaged communities as well as individuals wishing to set up more durable shelters at their ploughing fields and construction sites. The unit offers an alternative to corrugated iron shelters that are currently in the market though cheaper and quicker to assemble.

“On a larger scale, the Sustainable Housing Unit lends itself to use by international organizations for displaced communities in the event of natural disasters such as floods and droughts or even in times of civil strife and war, because of the units rapid deployment features” he said.

Project Coordinator, Dr Tiroyaone Tshukudu said, “The Unit covers an area of 17.5 m² with a width of approximately 3m and just under 6m long as well as featuring four small windows and one door. In addition, the unit is delivered to site as two packages of approximately 130 kg. Therefore it’s easily transported to the desired location. Once delivered, it takes about 4 hours to assemble.”

Giving a vote of thanks Kgosi Sekelere Kgope of Khekhenye thanked Botswana Innovation Hub for a donation that addresses one of the basic human needs - shelter. He said the donation will go a long way in restoring the dignity of the recipient and improving the life of one of the senior citizens resident in his village.

“It is heartwarming to see a company that does not just chase profits but also cares and does something to improve the quality of life of members of our communities,” he said. 

  

CEO Alan Boshwaen handing over the house to Tlhokaina Gabolatlhwe. Looking on is Khekhenye VDC Chairman Kgogo Kgongkane  

IPA 2016 Inspires Botswana Innovators

There were no entries from Botswana when the list of the top ten finalists of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2016 was whittled down from a total of 985 applicants who competed in the premier innovation contest on the African continent. The award ceremony for the annual Pan African competition that celebrates African ingenuity was held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on Thursday evening.

The overall winner of IPA 2016 is Dr Valentin Agon from Benin who submitted an anti-malaria drug treatment developed out of natural plant extract. The drug known as Api-Palu is significantly cheaper than available anti-malarial drugs and is popular in Central Africa for its therapeutic and non-toxic effects. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death on the continent and Dr Agon took away US$100,000.00 for his innovation.  

Second prize of US$25,000.00 went to Dr. Imogen Wright from South Africa who has developed the innovative Exatype, a software solution that enables healthcare workers to determine HIV positive patients’ responsiveness to ARV drug treatment. Exatype has the potential to contribute towards effectively managing HIV/AIDS in Africa, and also holds promise in helping detect drug resistance for other disease burdens such as Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

The Special Prize for Social Impact went to Dr. Eddy Agbo from Nigeria who has developed a rapid non-blood diagnostic medical device that can diagnose malaria in less than 25 minutes. The Urine Test for Malaria (UMT) is simple and affordable, and a potential game changer in managing malaria across Africa which has the highest number of malaria cases worldwide. The Special Prize for Social Impact earned Dr Agbo US$25,000.00

The IPA is a flagship program of the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) which recognizes, rewards and mobilizes African innovators through promotion of home-grown, market-driven solutions addressing intractable challenges in agriculture, health and well-being, manufacturing and service industry, ICT’s and environment, energy and water.

Botswana Innovation Hub and the Government of Botswana through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology partnered with the AIF to host the venerated competitions award ceremony in Gaborone. The bid to host the award ceremony here was endorsed by His Excellency the President Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Botswana Innovation Hub has been set up by the Government of Botswana as an innovative and networked organisation that promotes technology, entrepreneurship and commercialisation on a purpose built Science and Technology Park in its contribution towards diversifying the economy and transitioning to a knowledge based economy. On the other hand, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology is responsible for providing and maintaining building infrastructure, nuclear-safe environment and coordinating research, science and technology.

The transition of an economy from one development stage to another is not an event. It is a long process that is nurtured over time. The move from hunter-gathering to the age of farming and the dawn of the Industrial Revolution 12,000 years later are examples of the seminal transitions in human history, lifestyle and wellbeing. The industrial revolution of the 19th century and the scientific revolution of the 20th century are credited for preparing the conditions for further transformation of civilization to the current digital age of the emerging knowledge-based economy.

The establishment of the Sillicon Valley which now provides a template for the development of Science and Technology Parks and the fairytale transition of the Irish economy to a modern knowledge based economy spans well over 50 years. Established in 2012, Botswana Innovation Hub is still in the infancy of its transition with its Science and Technology Park still under construction. One of the important pre-conditions of the development of a Science and Technology Park is the promotion of cooperation and collaboration between government, industry and academia. International cooperation and collaboration in particular provides cooperating parties with a better vision of global processes and enhances competitiveness. 

Notwithstanding its early development stage, Botswana Innovation Hub has already set up a vibrant national system of innovation with strong linkages between government, industry and academia. Further still, Botswana Innovation Hub is a member of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) and the company’s CEO Alan Boshwaen has recently been elected president of the IASP Africa Division.

IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation that connects professionals managing science, technology and research parks (STPs) and other areas of innovation and provides services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members. The organization strives to enhance the competitiveness of its members and contribute to global economic development through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the transfer of knowledge and technology.

In parallel with the physical infrastructure development, Botswana Innovation Hub has commenced its core business of innovation support through innovation support programmes that include a technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC), the National Technology Transfer Office, Microsoft Innovation Centre, Clean-Tech Centre and the ICT developer community programme called Cyber City Kgotla among others. 

So while the emerging national innovation ecosystem did not yield any ultimate winners at IPA 2016, “Hosting the award ceremony and celebrating African ingenuity in Gaborone afforded Botswana the opportunity to showcase its commitment to putting innovation at the center of its development strategy,” said Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Honorable Nonofo Molefhi.

Summing up, CEO Alan Boshwaen said all those involved in the advancement of the frontiers of innovation, science and technology are winners and Batswana innovators will benefit from the networks, cooperation, collaborations and business opportunities that have been presented by IPA 2016. The awareness, exposure and confidence to participate in the continental competition will embolden local innovators and strengthen the national innovation ecosystem.

MODISAR - Doing What Botswana Does Best to Build a Business and Create Jobs

                                                                                                                                                                                       

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that, unemployment is a scourge that can harm growth not only because it is a waste of resources, but also because it generates redistributive pressures and subsequent distortions, drives people to poverty, constrains liquidity limiting labor mobility, and erodes self-esteem promoting social dislocation, unrest and conflict.

In the current depressed global economic climate the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports that Botswana’s unemployment rate is hovering around 20% and with a relatively young population, unemployment among the country’s young people is precariously high at 24%. The youth unemployment rate stands as the second highest amongst middle income countries. This situation presents a double whammy for the youth because even in the best of times, the job market was never going to absorb all job seekers, yet even with the best of intentions, not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur.

This however, does not mean we should throw our hands up in despair. We must instead work tirelessly to reduce unemployment and create economic opportunities for all, especially the youth. It is increasingly acknowledged that the creation of employment opportunities for young people is among the major development challenges of the 21^st century. Youth unemployment is associated with wasted human potential together with exclusion and entrenched inequality, unsustainability, and in some extreme cases civil and political strife.

Botswana’s economy has historically been agriculture driven until 1965 when diamonds were first discovered and the mineral industry dominated the national economy. At its peak, the mining sector accounted for 80% of the total export of the country's products and 20% of the entire employment sector. In contrast, agriculture accounts for less than 3% of the GDP but remains the mainstay of the rural economy with 32% of the population residing in rural areas and somehow dependent on crop production and livestock farming.

The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) states that, “to increase the work opportunities available to young people in Africa, government policy and development programmes tend to highlight agriculture and entrepreneurship as two potential pathways.” It therefore makes logic for Botswana to work on its strength in creating employment opportunities for its citizens.

Agriculture plays a critical role in the socio-cultural and economic lives of Batswana with the livestock subsector, and beef cattle farming in particular, contributing significantly to the country’s agricultural output.  80% of the agriculture output is attributed to livestock production. The principal livestock species are cattle with a population of 2.5 million, small stock comprising goats and sheep with a population of 1.5 million, and poultry with a population of 31 million birds. Around 80% of the national cattle herd is kept on communal land while the remaining 20% is kept in commercial farms.

As the backbone of the rural economy, agriculture is able to absorb large numbers of new job seekers and offer meaningful work with public and private benefits, while a more vibrant entrepreneurial culture, new skills and access to capital can avail young people the opportunity to create their own jobs.

Founding partner of AgriCorporate Limited and Chairman of Innovative Youth Organization, Rearabilwe Ramaphane concurs and laments ‘The unexplored diamond in Botswana’s beef industry.’ He contends that the agriculture sector needs to be, “Reformed, redefined and restructured to meet the undisputable business challenges of climate change and slow world economic growth.” Ramaphane advocates for techno-based and digitised business models to boost productivity, unlock employment opportunities and realize high quality agriculture yields.

For some time now, government has embarked on a drive to facilitate this process of innovation and entrepreneurship to and transform the country’s economy from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy as evidenced by a range of policy pronouncements such as the Human Resource Development Strategy, and the National Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.

In addition entities and programmes such as Botswana Innovation Hub, the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) have been established as part of a comprehensive framework to promote entrepreneurial development and establish an innovation ecosystem that stimulates national competitiveness and economic growth as well as deal with unemployment. The recent Youth Business Expo 2016 also points to national efforts to empower the youth and bridge the unemployment gap.

Inspired by a conducive national innovation ecosystem, the use of technology to improve agriculture yields presented two enterprising young citizens, Thuto Gaotingwe and Tebogo Dichabeng with a bright spark to establish Modisar, a company that produced a farm management desktop application and web on BETA productivity software application that goes by the same name, Modisar. The farm management application allows farmers to record information about the farm, paddocks, costs, sales, farm equipment, animal numbers as well as animal details.

According to Gaotingwe traditional livestock farmers face a myriad of challenges and although some of the traditional farming practices are still viewed as valuable in some areas, lack of access to information together with distorted indigenous knowledge practices often hinder productivity on the farms. “Traditional farmers have very limited access to information and control in livestock breeding which is an important aspect of achieving full production cycle,” he says.

He goes on to say Modisar does not require an active internet connection to function allowing a farmer to work offline and to synchronize data to cloud servers once there is active internet connection. “By synchronizing data, the farmer is able to have a backup copy of data safe on the cloud which can be accessed via Modisar Farm Management Web Application. Currently the app has farm management applications optimized for cattle, goats and sheep, the major livestock in the country,” states Gaotingwe.

In addition Modisar has a free knowledge base that carries farming articles. The articles currently cover different livestock diseases, vaccinations, feeds and best livestock farming practices. Farmers can download important documents and view a “symptoms gallery” where images of disease symptoms are stored allowing farmers in remote areas to identify diseases and initiate remedial action in real time while they wait for veterinary assistance.

Another value add of the Modisar app is a notification system which keeps farmers connected by alerting them through short message system (SMS) and email on important issues such as feeding, vaccinations and care activities. These notifications are communicated in Setswana or English depending on the farmer’s preferred language.

Modisar, the company is a client of the Botswana Innovation Hub’s technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC).  Their application is recognized as an African success story and part of the next generation of business and social impact innovations emerging from the region. The app won the 2014 edition of the Orange Africa Social Venture Prize that attracted over 450 ICT startups and entrepreneurs providing technological solutions in diverse fields.  

The pioneering farm management application has done it again this year with the nomination for the 2016 FIELD Africa Enterprise Award. The FIELD Africa Enterprise Award is a product of the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) which was established in June, 2008 to fund innovation for business in Africa. The Pan-African fund supports innovative and commercially sustainable business ideas that have the potential to positively impact the incomes of rural households and close the unemployment chasm.

The FIELD Africa Enterprise Award aims to improve the way agribusiness and other market systems work by facilitating market entry for rural poor households and businesses by stimulating the development and use of affordable and accessible technologies for the benefit of the rural poor. Modisar’s nomination for this prestigious award is testimony that by focusing on our strengths such as beef cattle farming and introducing techno-based and digitised business models the country can improve its competitiveness, increase yields and close the unemployment gap.