Project Kgolagano Harnesses Telemedicine to Plug the Gaps in National Healthcare Service Delivery

Telemedicine

The World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribes the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being. The UN agency advocates for a human rights-based approach to health, this approach advances the right to health in international law and international development processes. The approach further stipulates that the right to health includes access to timely, acceptable and affordable healthcare of appropriate quality in order to achieve the best health outcomes.

The reality however is that rural communities and people of low socioeconomic status face barriers that make it difficult to obtain basic healthcare services. Vulnerable and marginalized groups in societies tend to bear an undue proportion of health problems. Poor access to healthcare comes at both a personal and societal cost as people who do not receive vaccinations, may become ill and spread diseases to others increasing the burden of disease for society overall in addition to the burden borne individually.

The scenario in Botswana is no different as demonstrated by the fact that while government has instituted a robust primary healthcare policy and invested substantially in building health facilities all over the country, quality healthcare and service utlisation remain a challenge outside urban centers. Medical care is rudimentary in rural areas mainly as a result of inadequate skilled health professionals and the logistical and economic challenges of delivering quality medicines to peripheral regions.

Botswana is an average sized country of just over 2 million people. The country is one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world with a density of 3.9/km². Around 10 percent of the population lives in the capital city, Gaborone. With a thinly spread population sitting on a vast plateau that is divided into two distinct topographical regions comprising a hilly bush country and grassland eastern region, and the Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert in the west, service delivery and infrastructure development are a logistical and economic challenge.

To remove the obstacle that deny rural communities access to quality and affordable healthcare, Botswana Innovation Hub in partnership with some of its stakeholders is leveraging science, technology and innovation to help solve social and epidemiological problems that remain a hindrance  to the country’s healthcare service delivery. The company is harnessing the rapid spread of digital technologies to transform healthcare work and service delivery.

In its World Development Report of 2016, The World Bank Group defines the broader development benefits from using these technologies as digital dividends. These returns to digital investment have boosted growth, expanded opportunities and improved service delivery. The report’s, co-author Tim Kelly says, “It is widely acknowledged that the adoption and use of ICT’s for government and trade by countries can contribute significantly to the development and renovation of established economic and social sectors by reducing unemployment, especially among the youth and boosting efficiencies in service delivery.” 

In its drive to develop advanced science and technology innovation capital and activities that advance the country’s productivity and contribute to its competitiveness, Botswana Innovation Hub offers a unique platform for scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based innovation. In the process, the company has identified ICT as one of its focal sectors. “The company’s focal sectors were defined by national needs and opportunities to fuel economic diversification and job creation, as well as support the exploration and advancement of solutions to pressing national and global issues,” states ICT and Marketing Director, Tshepo Tsheko.

Tsheko says, investment in science, technology and innovation is essential for economic development and social growth. He says one of the Botswana Innovation Hub flagship programmes, the pilot project on TV White Space (TVWS) broadband access service has been hailed as a resounding success one year after it was launched. Project Kgolagano as the project is officially known, was launched on 12^th March, 2015 at Tsopeng Clinic in Lobatse and is already lauded for enhancing service delivery, through telemedicine and bridging the digital divide.

In telecommunications, TVWS denotes unused spectrum on the frequency range commonly used to deliver television channels. The frequencies allocated to a broadcasting service but not used locally enable the delivery of broadband using dynamic TV spectrum access. Project Kgolagano uses TV White Space technology from the free dynamic TV spectrum to provide hospitals and clinics with access to broadband internet and telemedicine services that facilitate a remote diagnosis network and support local healthcare service delivery.

“The project delivers online healthcare services to regions in Botswana with limited access to broadband and adequate specialized healthcare services using cutting edge technology for the delivery of broadband,” states Manager of the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC), Patel Barwabatsile. “Project Kgolagano connectivity enables access to specialised medicine in Gaborone and other locations around the world, with a specific focus on specialised healthcare services such as maternal medicine; cervical cancer screenings; dermatology screenings; HIV screenings and consultations; tuberculosis screenings and consultations; adult pediatric care and internal medicine consultations,” he says.

Kgolagano, is a Setswana word which means “to be connected or networked.” The project is a collaboration between Botswana Innovation Hub; Microsoft Corporation; University of Pennsylvania (UPEN); Global Broadband Solutions; Vista Life Sciences; Botswana Fibre Network (Bofinet) and USAID-NetHope. Barwabatsile states that the project is made possible through the support of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) to transmit on TV White Spaces, and the collaboration of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health representing government.

The objective of the project is to demonstrate the efficacy of the cutting edge technology of TVWS equipment and service, assist the regulator BOCRA to come up with the licensing framework for the dynamic spectrum access and use of TVWS as well as deliver the telemedicine health programme through low cost and long range broadband over TVWS. The telemedicine programme allows medical staff to consult with patients in remote locations, with the primary objective to increase the potential scale and reach of health services across Botswana. Furthermore, the project aims to lay the groundwork for future low cost internet access that can assist in increasing education, healthcare, access to markets and small business empowerment throughout Botswana.

The Director of Microsoft’s Technology Policy Group, Paul Garnett says, “Using TVWS for broadband internet connectivity has several distinct advantages which include the technology’s ability to cover greater distances and penetrate common obstructions, with greater efficiencies and reduced implementation costs. The technology is ideal as it can work in areas where there is no electricity, and it can lower the cost of an access base station by a factor of 10. This is a cutting edge technology that has the potential of providing cheaper broadband internet connectivity to areas that were not connected before.”

Garnett goes on to say, this technology uses location-aware devices and online databases to deliver low cost broadband access and other forms of connectivity to consumers. The approach is rooted in the idea that devices with greater knowledge of their surroundings can opportunistically use available radio spectrum. There are many TV broadcast channels that are unused in nearly every location in the world, these empty channels (blocks of spectrum) are what is used in this internet connection.

Following the launch at Tsopeng clinic in Lobatse last year, the pilot project was later extended to run in Francistown and Maun. The hospitals connected to the service are Athlone Hospital in Lobatse, Nyangabwe Hospital in Francistown, and Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun. In addition to these, Tsopeng clinic in Lobatse, Donga clinic in Francistown and Moeti clinic, Boseja clinic, Maun clinic, Sedie clinic and Maun General clinic were also connected. 

ICT and Marketing Director, Tsheko is excited at the positive outcome of the pilot project and believes that telemedicine will transcends Botswana’s rough terrain and socioeconomic barriers to make quality and appropriate healthcare services affordable and accessible to all. He said while the pilot phase is focused more on the health sector, sectors such as education, agriculture, tourism and security services will all benefit immensely from this technology in future once it is rolled out. 

In his post pilot project report, Barwabatsile concludes that Project Kgolagano has been successful in delivering broadband internet over the TVWS and in the process delivered healthcare services to the pilot sites and their catchment areas. He said the telemedicine programme included a monitoring and evaluation function that documented the socioeconomic impact of the project on the communities involved. The results clearly indicate that the communities reaped economic and social benefits from the pilot project.

“In order to move beyond pilot projects towards sustainable commercial deployments, the report recommends that BOCRA should come up with a regulatory framework for the adoption of the TVWS or dynamic spectrum access,” he says. Barwabatsile goes on to say recognition of the broadband technology will assist in speeding up the commercialization of the TVWS service as most organisations and government entities are willing to adopt or use the service if it is covered by a regulatory framework. 

Botswana Poised to Reap the Benefits of the Transformative Potential of the Digital Revolution

Digital technologies have spread rapidly in much of the world, transforming the worlds of business, work and service delivery. The World Bank Group’s, World Development Report of 2016 defines the broader development benefits from using these technologies as digital dividends. These returns to digital investment have boosted growth, expanded opportunities and improved service delivery.

The report titled, Digital Dividends, states that, “Countries that complement technology investments with broader economic reforms reap digital dividends in the form of faster growth, more jobs and better services.” However, it observes that in countries where the fundamentals are weak, digital technologies have not boosted productivity or reduced inequality.

Presenting the report at Botswana Innovation Hub earlier this month, co-author Tim Kelly said, “It is widely acknowledged that the adoption and use of ICT’s for government and trade by countries can contribute significantly to the development and renovation of established economic and social sectors by reducing unemployment, especially among the youth and boosting efficiencies in service delivery.” 

The report advises that for countries to reap the full benefits of the digital dividends they must promote competitive business environments, increase accountability and upgrade education and skills-development systems to prepare citizens for jobs of the future. 

In Botswana where the economy has historically been agriculture driven until 1967 when diamonds were first discovered, it has now emerged that over reliance on narrow volatile external markets has proved unsustainable and it is forecast that mineral revenue will decline substantially over the next two decades. For this reason economic diversification continues to be promoted, and the values of free enterprise economy encouraged through the drive to create a more competitive and investment friendly environment in which the private sector can flourish.

Government initiated structural and strategic shifts that will take the country beyond its mineral endowments and shape it into a knowledge-based economy. The government has, as a result, put a lot of effort into creating an enabling environment through sound macro-economic policies and an increased budgetary provision for sectors that are targeted at diversifying the economy as well as creation of sector capacity through skills development, access to land and capital, and low tax rates and exchange control liberalisation.

Permamant Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST), Dikagiso Mokotedi is adamant that government has laid a solid foundation to enhance technologies and reap benefits of the transformative potential of the digital revolution.  

Mokotedi says, “In creating an enabling environment, the Government of Botswana developed the first Science and Technology Policy in 1998 which 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.”

The Permanent Secretary goes on to say that, “A strategic blueprint, the Botswana National Research Science and Technology plan (BNRST) document that lays down the foundations for an implementation strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation was completed in 2005. This identified key areas to focus research and innovation aligned to the then existing research and development institutes.”

He says 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 that lay down a strong future foundation in Science, Technology and Innovation through a number of key interventions.

Government’s initiative to establish new institutions such as Botswana Innovation Hub, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and research institutes like Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), the University of Botswana’s new teaching hospital all bear testimony of governments strategic initiatives to promote research, technology transfer and innovation with commercial emphasis and relevance to Botswana.

Mokotedi says commercialisation of Research and Innovation is essential for economic growth. He however says it also requires funding, “Researchers burn money to generate knowledge and Business burn knowledge to generate money”. Therefore, with this synopsis of the policy setting for Science, Technology and Innovation, the government is facilitating creation of synergies among government, academia, private sector, industry and businesses through the Botswana Innovation Hub. Government is facilitating for policies that support commercialisation of research and innovation and Botswana Innovation Hub, which is set up to contribute to the country’s development and competitiveness, offers a unique platform through which the low hanging fruits of the digital revolution can be harvested to allow citizens to enjoy the bountiful harvest of digital dividends.

Intellectual Property is the Currency of Innovation and Creative Works

Intellectual Property (IP) is defined as a creation of the mind, an intangible asset that accords creators, authors, artists and inventors an incentive to invent. Some IP is protected by law, to give statutory expression to the moral and economic rights of creators in their creations. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) states that, “By striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish.”

An expert in business development and innovative products and services commercialisation, Ambrose Makgonatsotlhe states that a study conducted by the Southern African Innovation Support Programme (SAiS) concluded that, “Intellectual Property is critical in unlocking value from an inventive and innovative product, service or process. In knowledge intensive economies IP provides the platform for competitive and comparative advantage. It also focuses the innovator to operate entrepreneurially especially in the early stages of the product and business life cycles.”

Makgonatsotlhe observes that for Botswana to effectively leverage intellectual property assets, there is need for integration and convergence of components that lie within the IP value chain such as policy, special purpose instruments, funding, IP policing etc. He said, “It has been observed that IP rights in Botswana lacks coherence and remains largely fragmented with gaps in the overall IP support services.”    

To close these gaps, the government of Botswana established the Register of Companies and Intellectual Property (ROCIP) and the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority which provide a structural and strategic framework to promote and enable the full protection of the rights of investors and right-holders. As a key player in the innovation and creative works space, Botswana Innovation Hub in partnership with the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme and the University of Botswana established the National Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office.

The office is staffed with a Technology Transfer Officer (TTO) who is responsible for the identification and commercialisation of intellectual property arising from research, innovations, indigenous knowledge and technology developments.

The incumbent officer, Samuel Gaborone says, “The role of the TTO entails giving advice on commercial issues in contracts, identifying and protecting intellectual property and taking a leadership role in commercialising the IP through licensing and/or the creation of start-up companies.” 

Located within the Botswana Innovation Hub’s flagship technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) currently resident at River Walk Mall in Gaborone, the National Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office provides local entrepreneurs and innovators with the required tools to develop, protect and monetize their innovations.

Gaborone says the TTO offers specialized expertise services to facilitate the technology transfer and intellectual property which contribute towards generating knowledge-based job opportunities for the country. He said the office operates on a three pronged approach with a focus on IP Awareness and Capacity Building, IP Registration and Management, and IP commercialisation strategies.

Presently, the TTO is engaged in an awareness and capacity building drive and recently hosted the Intellectual Property Training Seminar in partnership with Chilume and Associates law firm. “The seminar which was attended by 20 FSVC clients focused on IP law, interrogation of IP presence in inventions and ideas, drafting, filling and management of IP portfolios for clients,” said Gaborone.  

Going forward, Gaborone said they will run awareness and capacity building campaigns focused on patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create. He said, “IP advisory services that help our clients leverage social and economic benefit for their inventions and creative works range from literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.”

Gaborone states that IP advisory services are an important component of a well-functioning Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem that Botswana Innovation Hub is currently building.

Botswana Launches The Botswana Academy of Sciences

As the world commemorated the World Science Day for Peace and Development earlier this week, Botswana used the opportunity to launch the Botswana Academy of Sciences.  The think tank which was launched by the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Hon. Nonofo Molefhi at Mmokolodi Nature Reserve on Tuesday 10^th November, 2015 will advise government on science, technology and innovation related matters.

Launching the academy Hon. Molefhi said, “Science issues tend to be complex, trends or developments in science and technology happen at a very fast pace. However, the legislative needs to translate this scientific knowledge into political choices, there is need for dialogue on many scientific fronts - as science can either be a tool or security threat, if not legislated properly.”

The founding chairperson of the academy, Professor Motsoptse Modisi said the establishment of the academy was a significant milestone in the construction and consumption of new ideas that illuminate the world around us. He said the launch of the academy was a celebration of the intellectual and practical activity that encompasses the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

The guest speaker at the launch was the president of the Academy of Science of South Africa, Professor Daya Reddy who shared his country’s experience in putting together a body of experts to advice government on science, technology and innovation matters. He said the Academy of Science of South Africa was inaugurated in 1996 by the former President Nelson Mandela who was also its patron until he passed on.

“The academy was formed in response to the need for an academy of science congruent with the dawn of democracy in South Africa – activist in its mission of using science for the benefit of society,” he said. He went on to say that evidence-based study project activities form the core of the academy’s function and are a key area of future development. 

The launch of the Botswana Academy of Sciences was the culmination of the commemoration of the World Science Day for Peace and Development. The day is a UNESCO initiative that was established in 2001 to demystify the sometimes complex nature of science, technology and innovation by presenting, “the broader public with an opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of science in their daily lives and a platform to engage them in debates on science related issues.”

The day is celebrated annually on the 10^th of November and this year’s theme was, “Science for a Sustainable Future: Celebrating the UNESCO Science Report,” in recognition of the release of the 2015 edition of the report.  Major activities and academic presentations of the day discouraged the use of science and technology for destruction of life such as the design and manufacture of weapons of war and other dangerous machinery and substances.

UNESCO recognizes that science, technology and innovation is essential for economic development and social progress. However, the awareness in science and technology is very low in developing countries making the importance of technology and innovation for catch up socio-economic growth and competitiveness essential for developing countries.

Speaking on occasion of the commemoration, director in the Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology, Tshepo Kebakile said, “The main purpose of the World Science Day for Peace and Development was to emphasise the role science and technology play in helping improve the lives of people.”   She said the aim of the commemoration is to ensure that citizens are kept informed of the development in science, while underscoring the role scientists play in broadening peoples understanding of their world knowledge economy as well as making societies sustainable.

It is widely recognized that access to new and appropriate knowledge and technologies promote steady improvements in living conditions, which can be lifesaving for the most vulnerable populations, and drive productivity gains which ensure rising income. Botswana has set up structural and strategic frameworks that build and support national capacity for research science, technology and innovation. This is demonstrated by the numerous institutions that have been established and the various policies that have been developed to aide sector development.  

In the aftermath of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis of 2008/09, and the declining allure of the country’s chief export mineral, diamonds, Botswana has been under mounting pressure to build innovation capacity that creates a vibrant science, technology and innovation ecosystem in an effort to diversify the economy, create jobs, and move the country towards a knowledge-based economy.

Botswana has set up structural and strategic frameworks that support research science, technology and innovation. Among the game-changing institutions that emerged out of this initiative has been Botswana Innovation Hub, Botswana Institute of Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) and Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST). These recently established entities add to the already existing University of Botswana (UB) and the soon to be University Botswana Collage of Agriculture (BCA).

To provide leadership in science, technology and innovation, the country had earlier on established a dedicated Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and in 2004 established the Department of Research Science and Technology (DRST) to provide an enabling policy and legislation environment and coordination of science, technology and innovation activities.

Following on the Botswana National Research Science and Technology Plan of 2005, the country recently re-established the Research, Science and Technology subsector within the High-Level Consultative Committee (HLCC). HLCC comprises policy making officials from government and captains of industry representing the private sector. The council seeks, “To consider and to resolve a wide range of issues which constrain the performance of the economy,” and the restoration of the HLCC’s Research, Science and Technology subsector gives issues related to research, science, technology and innovation the attention they deserve. 

In the reverberation of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis, the country developed the Botswana Revised Research Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of 2011. The policy calls for, “A systemic approach to research science, technology and innovation with clear vision, programmes, incentives, measures, roles, targets and monitoring indicators.”

The policy’s implementation plan advocates for the establishment of mechanisms and structures to coordinate linkages across sectors, set priorities and allocate funding for the policy as well as guidelines for specific programmes that can be adopted.

Cluster Development Director at Botswana Innovation Hub Dr Budzanani Tacheba believes that beyond advising government, the newly established academy of sciences will place impetus in recognizing scientists well beyond their academic acumen through key contributions to society and their own communities using science. “The fellows of the academy shall also collectively help further development of relevant science, technology and innovation policy documents to advise government through advisory bodies. As an advocacy body the fellows of the academy will have a new platform to openly critique science technology and innovation practices outside their work institutions,” he said.

"Sir, we are not done yet!" Tsheko Tells Youth, Sports and Culture Minister.

Emboldened by the resounding success of the launch of Di-Apps Mobile Application Store earlier this week, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) programme manager, Tshepo Tsheko made a bold pronouncement to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng, “Sir, we are not done yet! We have several other companies lined up and ready to fulfil your quest to produce young Batswana entrepreneur millionaires during your term of office.”

Tsheko was speaking on the fringes of the launch of the country’s first and only online application store, aptly named, Di-Apps Mobile Application Store. The digital distribution platform is a product of one of FSVC’s clients, Ditec Mobile.

The 100% citizen owned company designs, customizes and ultimately manufacturers mobile phones. Ditec Mobile offers a full range of hi-tech and durable mobiles with a wide appeal to people who appreciate the beauty and broad functionality of mobile phones,” states the company’s founder, Thatayaone Dichaba.

Ditec Mobile enrolled into the Botswana Innovation Hub’s technology entrepreneurship development programme, FSVC in January, 2014. The company was presented as candidate for the Ministers Young Entrepreneur Millionaire project at the launch of its Di-Apps Mobile Application Store at the Capitol Cinema at Game City mall in Gaborone.

The Youth, Sports and Culture Minister has vowed to produce at least five young entrepreneur millionaires during his term of office. Speaking at the launch, the Minister said, “It is high time Batswana showed confidence in young people and know that the big international brands we celebrate are given a push in their countries of origin.”

“Charity begins at home, these big brands are recognized by their economies, so why can’t we do the same for our brands? From today, I am becoming the brand ambassador for Ditec Mobile phones,” declared the Minister.  

Expounding on his pledge to the Minister, Thseko said, “Let’s face it, the odds are heavily stacked against early stage enterprise development. A significant percentage of new businesses fail and according to Bloomberg, nine out of ten startups will fail. This is a hard and bleak truth, but these cold statistics are not intended to discourage entrepreneurs, instead, they should encourage them to work harder and smarter.”

Tsheko explained that FSVC is the Botswana Innovation Hub’s hybrid incubator/accelerator that provides business and technology support services, strategic partnerships, tenancy and market access support to startup ventures.

He said with the caliber of clients they currently have in the programme, they can confidently meet and surpass the target for young entrepreneur millionaires that the Minister has set. He went on to say that it takes an inordinate amount of time, effort and other resources to graduate technology startups, but with the talent, passion and hunger for success that the FSVC clients demonstrate, he was certain they are the premier technology incubator and business accelerator in the region. “Our clients are very enterprising and are looking beyond our borders for markets. In fact most have already secured contracts abroad, and all we are asking for is recognition and support on the home front,” he said.

Tsheko said preparations are at an advanced stage for the launch of another locally based and globally focused startup. “World Queues is a 100% citizen owned company offering an innovative, time saving queue management service. The service allows customers to queue on line, by kiosk at entrances and by sms from their mobile phones,” he said.

The queue management service is already live in Kenya’s Coop Bank and Kenya Revenue Authority as well as the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) and First National Bank (FNB) in Botswana. “World Queues is another demonstration of the stellar work coming out of globally connected innovation ecosystem created by FSVC. We will be announcing the launch of this company in the next few weeks,” Tsheko said.

World Queues Managing Director, Justice Williams said they have been motivated by the Youth Ministers support and are looking forward to expanding their services to hospitals and clinics, and social services and amenities providers. “Our kiosks are being produced locally with a huge job creation spinoff and the revenue potential to the company and the country is enormous,” he said.

Williams said they are positioning World Queues as a Pan African brand and welcomed the support of the Youth Minister.   

   

Botswana Innovation Hub Presents Youth Minister, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng with a Candidate for His Young Millionare's Plan.

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng recently made a bold and ambitious undertaking to ensure that young people do not only succeed in business but also vowed, “to produce at least five young entrepreneur millionaires during my tenure at the ministry.”  

Botswana Innovation Hub has been quick to pick up the gauntlet and present, one of its flagship technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) client, Ditec Mobile  as a candidate for the Minister’s youth empowerment plan.

FSVC currently houses 15 carefully selected technology ventures and provides business and a range of technology advisory services to a wider network of walk-in and remote clients. Ditec Mobile is a 100% citizen owned company that designs, customizes and ultimately manufacturer mobile phones. The company enrolled into FSVC in January, 2014 and will be launching their Di-Apps Mobile Application Store and products and services on Tuesday 6^th October, 2015 at the Capitol Cinema at Game City mall in Gaborone.

“Ditec Mobile offers a full range of exceptional mobiles with a wide appeal to people who appreciate the beauty and broad functionality of mobile phones,” declares the company’s founder, Thatayaone Dichaba.

He said their devices, including their foremost handset, Pioneer, is being promoted in over 10 African countries and that with the realization of the huge potential presented by the use of local content in mobile devices, they established Di-Apps Mobile Application Store. “The store will sell applications with local content and the application comes pre-installed in all our smartphones,” he says.

Dichaba says an increase usage of smartphones has brought with it endless possibilities and services that can be provided through smartphone technology. “Di-Apps, is a digital distribution platform and Botswana's first and only online application store. The platform will serve as the official app store for the Android operating system, allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software development kit (SDK),” he says.

It is against this background that Ditec Mobile is introducing Di-Apps, to stimulate application development and usage of local content, to make it possible for Botswana’s creativity and technology to be availed to the world within this platform.

“This initiative carries a huge export and employment potential as our platform is currently being tested by 7 mobile operators in 5 countries. We are currently hosting over 10 local applications developed by Botswana companies such as Learn Setswana, Thanodi Translator, Learn Sekgalagadi, etc.”

Ditec Mobile is in dialogue with local mobile network operators being Be Mobile, Mascom, and Orange, to integrate their existing mobile money platforms into the applications, a move that once approved will enable users to buy applications using Mobile Money provided by their Operators or using Airtime. Dichabe is fully convinced that this will open more opportunities for both users and developers.

For his part, FSVC Manager, Tshepo Tsheko said Botswana Innovation Hub welcomes the minister’s pledge as it is in line with the company’s aim of contributing to the country’s economic development and competitiveness through the creation of new scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based business opportunities.  

“We are thrilled by the minister’s commitment to loosen up the tight breakthrough pathways into business by making it easier for young people to venture into business and allowing them to play an active role in the country’s economy,” he said.

Tsheko says it will be easy for Ditec Mobile to fulfill the minister’s goal. “Ditec Mobile phones are hi-tech and durable. A directive to all government departments, ministries and parastal’s to have the devices as standard issue for officers entitled to cellphones will guarantee a market and bolster the company’s profitability,” said a buoyant Tsheko.  

“As Botswana Innovation Hub, we are already supporting Ditec Mobile with a wide range of technology advisory services, business and technology support services, strategic partnership and tenancy and market access support,” he said.

With a guaranteed market, Ditec Mobile will be able to set up production plants in the country, create jobs and export a truly Botswana made high-tech mobile handset. Thsheko believes Ditec Mobile are the perfect candidate for Hon. Thapelo Olopeng’s young entrepreneur millionaires’ project.  

Innovation is happening here, come and join us….

The United Nations Thematic Think Piece that defines the Post 2015 global development agenda recognizes science, technology and innovation (STI) as essential in the promotion of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development. The Post 2015 Development Agenda states that, “Access to new and appropriate technologies promote steady improvements in living conditions, which can be lifesaving for the most vulnerable populations, and drive productivity gains which ensure rising income.”

The emerging agenda states that innovation driven growth is no longer the prerogative of high income countries alone and observes that some developing countries have achieved significant economic growth through the creation and deployment of STI capacity.  However, this has not been the case for all countries, especially the least developed countries which require dedicated support to bolster their efforts to build STI capacity. The agenda emphasizes the importance of integrating STI into public policy goals, giving particular focus to the nexus between STI, culture, education and development.

The ongoing STI commemoration month initiated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Science and Technology Ministers is a commitment to building innovation capacity that creates a vibrant science, technology and innovation ecosystem in the region. The Ministers observed that awareness in science and technology is very low in the region and acknowledged the importance of technology and innovation for catch up socio-economic growth and competitiveness. They resolved to make, “STI more participatory and inclusive so that there is public engagement in the scientific endeavor from the full spectrum of social actors, including women, young people and indigenous communities.”

In Botswana, the inaugural STI commemoration month is driven by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) and was launched by Hon. Nonofo Molefhi on 4^th August, 2015 in Gaborone. The ministry has partnered with the Department of Research, Science and Technology (DTRS), Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) and Botswana Innovation Hub to commemorate the STI Month with a series of activities lined up to build awareness and nurture interest in science, technology and innovation as well as encourage investment in research and development (R&D). 

STI are recognized as the vehicle which drives successful economies cross the world. However, it is estimated that developing countries expenditure in R&D accounts for less than 1% of GDP compared to 3% in developed countries. Locally, the revised Research Science Technology and Innovation Policy of 2011 supports an increase of 2% of the GDP in R&D investment. It is widely acknowledged that increased public awareness and private sector participation in science, technology and innovation provides an incentive for business enterprises and governments to invest in R&D.

Botswana Innovation Hub will host the Innovation Vendor Day and Exhibition on Tuesday 18^th August, 2015 at the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park as part of the STI Month initiative. The Innovation Vendor Day is a technology and innovation exhibition that celebrates local innovations, builds awareness and promotes the uptake of local technologies by key users. The exhibition is intended to increase public awareness and private sector participation in science, technology and innovation by showcasing national innovations, especially those emanating from Botswana Innovation Hub registered companies and companies registered with the Botswana Innovation Hub’s technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC). 

The daylong event comprises of exhibitions, panel discussions, pitch sessions and guided tours of the park for potential tenancy clients and those looking for land to develop. The panel discussion titled, “Are Botswana Innovations Fundable?” responds to prevailing concerns where local innovators struggle to secure funding from commercial banks and the absence of local Venture Capitalists, Private Equity Investors and Angel Investors.

By hosting the event at the Science and Technology Park, the Botswana Innovation Hub accords stakeholders the opportunity to appreciate progress on its development. The Science and Technology Park is strategically located on a 57 hector site, near the Sir Seretse Kham 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 the region and global markets.

Construction of the parks Icon Building commenced in August 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in July 2016 in line to be commissioned as part of the country’s 50^th anniversary of Independence celebrations on 30th September, 2016. The parks construction is a major national project that represents a significant investment in the country’s infrastructure development. Its central buildings are a world class, iconic masterpiece of architecture whose designs won the 2013 Auto Desk Design Awards. 

With 24,000m² of commercial development space, the Icon Building will house both local and international innovative businesses and institutions thereby creating a network that fosters entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and innovation. On completion, the Science and Technology Park will offer high quality road infrastructure, street lightening as well as uninterrupted water, power and ICT connectivity. In addition to creating jobs, the Icon Building tenants will create other spin-off benefits that will spur economic growth. Prospective clients and the public will be able to appreciate progress on construction of the state-of-the-art buildings and facilities.

The Innovation Vendor Day will also accord Botswana Innovation Hub the opportunity to disseminate information on its innovation support programmes. The company currently has five innovation support programmes that foster entrepreneurship, enhance innovation capacity, create job opportunities, and contribute towards diversifying the economy and moving the country towards a knowledge-based economy. Programmes currently running are Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC), Southern African Innovation Support Programme (SAiS), Technology Transfer Office, FSVC, Clean-Tech Centre and Cyber City Kgotla. These programmes are accessible to individual and institutional clients from the public and private sector and are aimed at fostering collaboration between academia, business and government in designated priority economic sectors.

The Innovation Vendor Day is a celebration of the very best home grown innovations that also promises to be an engaging and informative platform that builds awareness and nurtures interest in science, technology and innovation. Botswana Innovation Hub, the home of innovation welcomes the public to the inaugural Innovation Vendor Day. Innovation is happening here, come and join us……