Wednesday, July 13, 2016

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.






Monday, July 11, 2016

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 28th 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 50th 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