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……

 

A Formidable New Landmark for Gaborone in the Horizon

I love our city but let’s face it, when it comes to aesthetics, ambiance, functionality and quality of life, Gaborone falls short of the mark. As a national focal point of administration and commerce the city has not been appropriately planned to promote robust economic development required to compete in present day’s fierce global economic contest. Rapid urbanisation continues to put pressure on infrastructure that was designed to accommodate a smaller population. 

Gaborone has suffered the growing pains of a developing city but the city lacks character, poise and the sophistication found in the neighbouring capital cities of Pretoria, Harare, Lusaka and Windhoek. This scenario is exacerbated by the soaring cost of living and crime statistics, questionable school rankings, a diminished career and occupational outlook and persistent power and water cuts.

Proponents of Space Management state that space affects ones mood, well-being and productivity. Could Gaborone’s uninspiring social and economic spaces and infrastructure networks that do not adequately cater for the wellbeing of citizens and the aspirations of investors be the reason the country’s Gross National Happiness index and productivity levels are so low?

The latest World Happiness Report ranks Botswana 146^th happiest nation out of 156 countries in the world. The country is number 35 out of 44 countries ranked in Africa. On productivity, the country is ranked 74^th out of 144 economies by The Global Competitiveness Index of 2014 -2015.

Gaborone however is a resilient city. With a colourful rags to riches history, the city is fighting back to reclaim its past glory and position itself for the next phase of development towards the emerging knowledge-economy. Once the seat of government for one of the poorest countries in the world - with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the late 1960s - the city has been in the driving seat of efforts that have seen Botswana transform itself into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, now boasting a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $16,400 per year as of 2013. Its high gross national income (by some estimates the fourth-largest in Africa) gives the country a modest standard of living and the highest Human Development Index of continental Sub-Saharan Africa. 

One of the country’s strategies to address challenges of competitiveness, attract foreign direct investment, improve productivity, stimulate economic growth and create jobs, is to develop an innovation ecosystem that will move the country from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one. The creation of spaces that are conducive for business and use technology and communication to create more efficient agglomerations in terms of competitiveness, innovation, environment, energy, utilities, governance, and delivery of services to the citizen is embodied in Science and Technology Parks.

Science and Technology Parks are sources of entrepreneurship, talent, and economic competitiveness, and are key elements of the infrastructure supporting the growth of today's global knowledge economy. By providing a location in which government, research institutions and private companies cooperate and collaborate, Science and Technology Parks create environments that foster collaboration and innovation. They enhance development, skills transfer, commercialization of technology and advance knowledge.

Construction of Botswana’s first Science and Technology Park, Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park is set to change Gaborone’s skyline and boost the city’s rankings as a conducive business environment and desirable place to live. Construction of the park commenced on 11^st August, 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in June, 2016 in line to be commissioned as part of the country’s 50^th anniversary of Independence celebrations on 30^th September, 2016. The parks construction is a major national project that represents a significant 1 Billion Pula investment in the city’s infrastructure development.

The Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park is strategically located on a 57 hectare site, near the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and adjacent to the Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development node of Block 8 area. The park is an ideal location for technology-driven and knowledge-intensive businesses to establish themselves, develop and compete in regional and global markets.

The focal point of the Hub is to provide state-of-the-art buildings and facilities to attract domestic, regional and global companies to locate business as well as research and development activities within the park, and promote technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship. When the facilities in the park are fully developed, the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park will consist of world class services including high quality road infrastructure, street lighting, telecommunications infrastructure with high capacity international connectivity and secured power and water, as well as professional business and technology transfer services. 

Its central icon buildings are a world class, iconic masterpiece of architecture designed by Shop Architecture of New York whose designs won the 2013 Auto Desk Design Awards. The building is regarded as one of Africa’s pioneering ‘green’ structures. According to the World Green Building Council, “Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refer to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.” This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. 

The Park offers prime real estate products and services. With 24,000m² of commercial development space, the icon buildings will accommodate investors and tenants within sectors of Biotechnology, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Energy and Environment, and Mining Technology sectors, as well as an Entrepreneurship Development Centre commonly known as an Incubation Centre.  The buildings offer flexible rental office and laboratory spaces ranging from 50m² 1000m² for rent.

The central icon building entails a multi-use development with shared amenities within a garden Hub concept and an International amphitheater meant to host significant international events. The building also provides modern high quality premises that are easily adaptable with plug and play shared facilities such as meeting, board and training rooms, restaurants, coffee shops, gyms and wellness centers, postal services, banking and ATM services, and many other complementary services that provide work, live and play type of environment within the Science and Technology Park. Included in the mix is unfurnished standard office space with electricity and data connections as well as services such as common area cleaning, maintenance, security, and administration within a secure business and networking environment.

For businesses that would like to put up their own buildings, the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park offers land for long term lease or co-development with an additional 36 hectares for light industrial purposes.  The park has 40 plots of varying sizes available for lease. The plot sizes range from 3,000 – 16,000m² which can be consolidated or subdivided and the company provides plot development guidelines. 

Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen says, “In addition to developing superior, world class science and technology park buildings, Botswana Innovation Hub is involved in networking, advocacy and capacity building activities that support innovation.”  Boshwaen is confident that Gaborone’s new landmark is set to change the city’s ambiance and the dynamics and business culture by offering a unique platform for scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based innovations. 

 

 

 

 

Reflections of 2014

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is a period of reflection and introspection. Financial Philosopher and ardent blogger Kent Thune says this period presents an opportunity to reflect on the performance of the previous year as well as set new targets for the ensuing year. Thune says, “Reflection is not just a ‘looking’ back, it is giving mindful attention to lessons learned from experience and applying them to future growth and well-being. It is a reinforcement, a looking inward, an introspective inquiry with oneself.” 

As the curtain closes on 2014, it is important that we reflect on the accomplishments and challenges faced by one of the country’s economic game changing ensemble, Botswana Innovation Hub. Botswana Innovation Hub was incorporated as a company under the laws of Botswana to establish and manage the country’s first Science and Technology Park through which the country will nurture creativity and innovation in technological developments as well as build capacity for economic diversification through technology transfer and adaptation.

That the company was conceptualised in 2008 at the height of the global economic recession when many government projects and programmes were either scrapped or deferred demonstrates the country’s strategic intent and the high prominence with which this initiative is held. Botswana Innovation Hub carries the national hopes and aspirations of transformation from a factor-driven economy to a technologically-driven and knowledge-based one.   

 The company is currently implementing its initial 2013 - 2016 strategy having developed an effective governance framework and operational processes and policies that reached sufficient levels of physical, institutional and human capital operations in 2012.

 Construction of the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park commenced on 1^st August, 2014 and is scheduled to be completed on 30^th June, 2016 in line to be commissioned as part of the country’s 50^th anniversary of Independence celebrations on 30^th 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. 

 Speaking at the construction contract signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Dikagiso Mokotedi said given the blight of recent failed national projects, the Botswana Innovation Hub project will test the country’s resolve to bounce back and complete projects of this magnitude on time and within budget. “Let me emphasise that this project will be subjected to stringent critical path analysis and management to ensure that project scheduling and resource planning do not in any way jeopardise the set cost, quality and completion date,” he said.

 Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen acknowledges the importance of delivering quality infrastructure on time. He goes further and takes a long term view, never missing the opportunity to emphasise that, Botswana Innovation Hub is not just about construction of a world class science and technology park but more about the key initiatives, projects and programmes that build capacity for economic diversification through technology transfer and adaptation. “In addition to developing superior, world class science and technology park buildings, Botswana Innovation Hub is involved in networking, advocacy and capacity building activities that support innovation,” he says.

 Boshwaen says Botswana Innovation Hub, which has hitherto been an Affiliate Member of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) pending construction of the park was bestowed Full Membership status at the 31^st IASP World Conference held in Doha, Qatar on 21^st October, 2014. The upgrade came in recognition of commencement of construction of the park and the projects and programmes Botswana Innovation Hub is currently running.  

 IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. It connects professionals managing science, technology and research parks and other areas of innovation and provides services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members. Its members enhance the competitiveness and entrepreneurship of their cities and regions, and contribute to global economic development through innovation, entrepreneurship and the transfer of knowledge and technology. IASP is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It is a founding member of the World Alliance for Innovation (WAINOVA).

Among the initiatives, projects and programmes that foster entrepreneurship and technology transfer as well as build innovation capacity that are currently running at Botswana Innovation Hub is, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC). FSVC is a technology entrepreneurship development programme that offers early-stage enterprise support through pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration services.

 FSVC currently has 15 registered clients who receive coaching and mentoring services with many more walk in clients seeking advice on different entrepreneurial development schemes. The programmes client companies have created 25 jobs since enrolling into the programme in January, 2014 and over 200 technology start-ups have received mentoring and advisory guidelines on their technology business ventures through enquires and pitch sessions. 

 One of the FSVC resident companies, Modisar Net (Pty) Ltd has recently won the grand prize of €25,000.00 for their submission of a software solution for livestock farm management called Modisar at the Orange Social Venture Prize 2014. The application enables farmers to manage their livestock, finances and have access to a community of farmers and expertise in the livestock management field.

 Botswana Innovation Hub established the Clean-Tech Centre in November, 2013 to support business development and research in the clean technologies sector of the economy. The Centre is currently testing a prototype for a housing unit in Khudumelapye in the Kweneng District. The objective of the project is to benefit local housing developments and adoption of technologies towards sustainable housing. This project is also linked to the Botswana Innovation Hub Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative as the prototype housing unit was donated to an economically challenged resident of Khudumelapye who was identified through the assistance of the Tribal Administration and Social Workers.

 Still in the Clean-Tech Centre, Botswana Innovation Hub has collaborated with BCL mine in Selibe Phikwe to develop key components of the mining technology supply chain incubator model. The partnership seeks to create a platform to leverage existing mining skills and expertise into new knowledge based entrepreneurial ventures. The business incubator is scheduled for implementation before end of the year.

In an effort to bridge the digital divide, boost the country’s digital economy and arrest and reverse the tide of youth unemployment, Botswana Innovation Hub has partnered with Microsoft Corporation and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to launch the KitsoWorks initiatives. KitsoWorks is an initiative which provides a platform with a job search function, youth mentoring and social and professional networking features. The initiative connects young people around the world with opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. The programme helps unemployed graduates gain the necessary skills for seamless integration into the emerging digital economy. To date more than 300 beneficiaries have been registered on the portal and more than 4000 have been reached though social media and online campaign. 

Botswana Innovation Hub is also running a pilot project of the TV White Space broadband access at Athlone Hospital and Tsopeng Clinic in Lobatse. The programme is due to be rolled out at Letsholathebe Hospital in Mau and Nyangagwe Hospital in Francistown before the end of the year. TV White Space is technology that uses free Dynamic TV Spectrum for access to broadband internet. Telemedicine services will be rolled out through this project. The project is expected to deliver specialised Telemedicine applications in partnership with local software developers and integrators to identified rural sites in the country. Botswana Innovation Hub is working with BOCRA to assist with regulating the technology.

Other initiatives, projects and programmes that took off this year include the establishment of the National Technology Transfer Office and the Local ICT Developer Community Office. The Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAiS) continues to build capacity and promote collaboration between the innovation systems of Southern African countries. One of the major initiatives that have emerged from this programme is Spachee mobile money for banking the unbanked. Further work on the Clean-Tech renewable energy initiative includes the Solar Testing and Demonstration facility and the local biodisel production initiative.

 

KitsoNet Set to Boost Botswana’s Digital Economy

The world is in the midst of an unfolding digital revolution and Botswana is no exception. The country has a robust ICT policy known as Maitlamo and enjoys, ‘low technological entry barriers and fixed costs’ which present it with the opportunity to participate and reap social and economic gains from a burgeoning ICT sector. However, for a country of its socio-economic and political standing, Botswana has a very low uptake of ICT’s by individuals, businesses and government.

Enhanced ICT services required for effective participation in the emerging knowledge economy continue to elude a vast majority of the population, and there is evidence that the country’s competitive position in ICT is slipping, as measured in international rankings.

The low uptake of ICT’s and slide in international rankings is compounded by high levels of unemployed IT graduates which poses a threat to national security and prosperity. The paradox of youth unemployment is that there is a critical skills shortage owing to a mismatch between demand in the labour market and available skills.

According to Senior Research Fellow at Botswana Institute of Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA), Dr Grace Tabengwa, it is young people who bear the brunt of the series of demographic and economic shifts of the global socio-economic and political interplay that renders them unemployed. She said studies show that youth unemployment is precipitated by a mismatch between demand in the labour market and available skills and bridging the gap between the extended pool of untapped talent and the shortage of skills is imperative.

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. “Human capital development is a key factor that can transform developing countries’ growth prospects through efficiency, competitiveness and attracting foreign direct investment inflow where expertise of skills is key,” states Dr Tabengwa.

The World Economic Forum’s 2014 Global Information Report on ICT usage, ranks Botswana 99 out of 144 countries. The report measures the extent to which ICT’s enable access for all citizens to basic services such as health, education and financial services among others. According to the report, Botswana ranks at 98, 96 and 91 on ICT usage among individuals, business and government respectively. The report further ranked the country 119 and 122 on business to business internet use and business to consumer internet usage respectively.

Concerns about the country’s low uptake of ICT and high levels of unemployed IT graduates were raised by industry players at the recent ICT Pitso held in Gaborone from the 4^th to 5^th September, 2014. Participants identified the slow take-off of e-government and e-commerce as negatively affecting service delivery in different sectors of the economy and pointed to the adoption of ICT as a critical success factor for personal development, competitive business environment and open, transparent and efficient governance.

Addressing public hearings on the National ICT Policy recently, the outgoing Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Works, Transport and ICT, Odirile Motlhale said although Maitlamo has been around since 2007, Botswana is still in the early stages of ICT’s use in both trade and government. “ICT is yet to be fully utilised at the level it is expected to be in Botswana because initiatives and projects that could aid its uptake by citizens are lagging behind,” he said.

Motlhale said the objective of the policy was to improve legislative oversight, contribute to strengthened implementation of ICT policies and programmes, strengthen stakeholder engagement between civil society and parliament, and bridge the gap between country’s experts and national decision makers.

Elsewhere, in a paper on The Analysis of Mobile Commerce in Botswana, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), Chief Operations Officer, Anthony Masunga said while the rest of the world has moved on from e-commerce to m-commerce with mobile technology replacing cash payments, Botswana was still lagging behind. He said a recent case study they conducted revealed that, “75% of the respondents use cash and cheque for payment of monthly bills and that on average 70% of the respondents spend between 15 to 45 minutes in bill payment queues.”

This less productive and time consuming, over-the-counter payment method of bills and application for services reflects the slow responsiveness by a large proportion of the citizenry to transact with government through e-government in areas such as tax filling, application for Omang, driver’s license renewal, business registration among others.

In an effort to bridge the digital divide, boost the country’s digital economy and arrest and reverse the tide of youth unemployment, Botswana Innovation Hub has partnered with Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) to launch the KitsoNet and KitsoWorks initiatives.

“KitsoNet is a scheme designed to drive the uptake of internet use and e-commerce through an online portal or store, www.kitsonet.co.bw. The scheme assists public servants and government sponsored students earning allowances to purchase ICT devices, services and training through a salary or allowance advance scheme arranged through First National Bank (FNB),” said MIC Manager, Patel Barwabatsile.  

“The main aim of this scheme is to increase household ownership of ICT devices which will prop-up internet penetration, encourage innovation and use of e-commerce as well as support the development of locally relevant ICT products and services which is key to increasing the country’s technological readiness and competitiveness,” he said.

For his part the Director Marketing, ICT and Registration at Botswana Innovation Hub, Dr Geoffrey Seleka said Botswana Innovation Hub acts as a catalyst in the development of the ICT industry and creation of a local innovative supporting ecosystem. He said the company supports the development of innovative local content, skills and job creation as part of the ICT development strategy and e-government.

Dr Seleka said to tackle ICT graduate unemployment, Botswana Innovation Hub has collaborated with MIC and the Department of National Internship Programme in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, to setup a youth empowerment programme called KitsoWorks.

KitsoWorks is a localised version of the Global Microsoft YouthSpark platform with a job search function, youth mentoring and social and professional networking features. The initiative connects young people around the world with opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. “The Botswana version of the programme helps unemployed Batswana graduates gain the necessary skills for seamless integration into the emerging digital economy,” declares Patel.

KitsoWorks accords Batswana graduates seeking jobs and business opportunities to submit their credentials to the online platform or database where they can be searched by those looking for  talent and vice versa. The graduate’s deliver value to a pool of participating local companies and in turn receive structured mentorship from their host organisations. “This programme leverages the knowledge, expertise and creativity of industry players and harnesses their technology transfer to build the country’s innovation ecosystem that invariably addresses the country’s socio-economic challenges such as youth unemployment,” states Patel.   

Dr Seleka sees both the KitsoNet and KitsoWorks initiatives modelling the future of Botswana and positioning the country for the next phase of economic development, which is the knowledge-based or weightless economy. He says the two initiatives will give e-government and e-commerce a boost and, “will spur national efforts to universal access to broadband; support workforce development and professional skills enhancement; boost employment and contribute to the country’s economic development by fostering technology transfer and creating new scientific and technological business opportunities,” he said.

 

First Steps Venture Centre Adopts an Outward Oriented Early-Stage Enterprise Support Programme

True to the African proverb that states that, “It takes a village to raise a child,” the Botswana Innovation Hub’s flagship technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) takes the holistic view that early-stage enterprise support cannot be done in isolation, rather, an entire community must participate to some extent in the task.

“Successful businesses are not built solely on the plans and execution strategies of their owners, but also with sound advice from experts and professional who support the business,” states FSVC Programme Manager, Tshepo Tsheko.

Tsheko’s definition of the village extends beyond the confines of the local precinct. He is of the view that the advent of the Information Age has ushered in an era which considers the world as a single community, a global village linked by electronic media. This contemporary network society is based on the use of ubiquitous Information and Communications Technology (ICT’s), networks and personal communication tools, that allow people to share knowledge and experiences across the world.

Tsheko was speaking at the inaugural Innovative Entrepreneurs Workshop organised by FSVC and the US Embassy’s Speaker Programme on the 8^th September earlier this month. The Innovative Entrepreneurs Workshop series brings world renowned business coaches, mentors and experts to support early-stage enterprises enrolled into the FSVC programme to engender and support a vibrant local technology start-up ecosystem.

Tsheko says beyond nurturing technology entrepreneurship and providing technology start-up businesses with a potential to grow locally and into the international markets, “FSVC has infused this exciting value addition as we step up and step out to the rest of the world with real life, bareknuckle, practical mentorship programmes that offer invaluable experience of the fiercely contested business environment for our clients.”  

It is this view of the global village and the provision of technology entrepreneurship support in the form of non-financial resources such as mentorship, expert guidance and access to industry events that is essential for entrepreneurs and has given the FSVC programme its outward orientation. The outward oriented early-stage enterprise support is highly sought by local businesses that seek a truly competitive global edge.

The inaugural workshop hosted highly acclaimed international speaker and mentor, Peter Corbett, who is also the founder and CEO of iStrategyLabs, a digital agency based in Washington DC. Introducing Corbett to participants, Acting Economic and Political Chief at the US Embassy, Chansonette Yun said, Corbett is widely known for his marketing acumen coupled with a deep technical background and focus on community building having spent many years as a grassroots organizer driven to build healthy ecosystems for entrepreneurs.

She said, “His company has worked with the likes of The US Army, Microsoft, Disney, NASDAQ, Coca-Cola, Ford, Volkswagen, and many other international brands.”

Yun said Corbett has mentored many start-up accelerator classes around the world, advised hundreds of early stage technology company’s and is frequently called upon by media houses such as Time Magazine, Washington Post and CNN to provide his perspective on technology, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elements of the Innovative Entrepreneurs Workshop included modules on Defining the Value Proposition; Validating the Market; Attracting Investors; Assessing Competition; Moving from Technocrat to Technopreneur; Marketing and Sales Strategies and Thinking Global.

For his part Corbett said he is driven by a passion for all things technical and entrepreneurial. He said in a world where eight out of ten entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first eighteen months, mentoring is an effective way to reduce the learning curve for early-stage enterprises while according them valuable experience for professional and personal development. He said he was happy to be in Botswana and working with FSVC to provide technology entrepreneurship development support.

 

The FSVC technology entrepreneurship development programme was established in November, 2013 and boasts an illustrious ensemble of local business mentors and coaches for its clients. These are accomplished business men and women with broad and deep experience. The expertise of this eclectic ensemble that is seasoned with a pinch of youth ranges from business consultancy to ICT. Amongst the distinguished luminaries are Kenneth Molosi, Neo Ngwako, Evelyn Gaetsaloe and Itumeleng Garebatshabe.     

Tsheko explains that Botswana Innovation Hub has been established as part of an economic game changing institution to build the country’s first Science and Technology Park and help transform the country into a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy. The company achieves this by promoting a culture of innovation and competitiveness among its associate companies and knowledge-based institutions. It established FSVC to support technology transfer and serve as a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurial support, he says.

The enthused Tsheko could not hide his joy over the technology entrepreneurship development programme’s latest accomplishment, “FSVC will continue to bring world renowned business mentors, coaches and even technology evangelists as we position ourselves as the imitable rainmakers, the self-driven game changers and success factor for technology entrepreneur start-ups in the country. We are blazing!” he declares.   

A Robust ICT Developer Community Will Enhance Botswana’s Digital Prospects

“Smartphones for the masses,” and “Africa’s mobile boom powers the innovation economy,” screamed two headlines in the local print media in the past week. The first caption was announcing the arrival of the Alcatel One Touch Pixi 2 smartphone which has broken the P1000 barrier to smartphone access with its P600 price tag. “Industry experts have often put the price tag separating ordinary handset and smartphone, and its related access to the web, at P1000,” states the article which has no byline. The author(s) quotes the experts assertion that the smartphone landscape is rapidly changing with high quality smartphones becoming increasingly affordable and accessible and goes on to predict that, “Any smartphone that breaks the P1000 mark would open the floodgates of mass access to the web.”

The second headline introduces a feature article celebrating the advent of the ubiquitous connectivity of mobile and wireless devices and their transformation of African lives for the better. The article states that in a continent where access to electricity is still patchy, particularly in non-urban areas one cannot talk about Africa without talking about mobile and energy-frugal applications. “It is not hard to understand why. Installing a traditional fixed-line telecoms infrastructure makes no economic sense across huge, sparsely populated, and sometimes difficult to cross terrains”, it states.

“Before mobile came along, access to data was limited for millions of Africans, but by the end of 2014 more than 600 million people - about 56 percent of the population - are likely to own a mobile phone, with some researchers estimating penetration could reach 80%”, reflects the BBC article which credits smartphones as powerful and pervasive sources of data through the web.

The Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly states that the Internet is one of the most powerful instrument of the 21^st century for increasing access to information, transparency and facilitating active citizen participation in building democratic societies. The world body has declared access to the Internet as a basic human right which provides individuals with, “The potential to provide new solutions to development challenges, particularly in the context of globalisation, and could foster economic growth competitiveness, access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication and social inclusion that would help to expedite the integration of all countries, especially the least developed countries, into the global economy.” The General Assembly goes on to spur global efforts to universal access to broadband.

“A steady fall in the worldwide costs of telephone and broadband internet services has enabled a number of developing countries to expand their access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) and thereby close the digital divide,” observes The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The surge in the numbers of mobile broadband subscriptions in developing countries has brought the Internet to a multitude of new users states the annual report which is viewed as the industry benchmark for technology development with a reputation as a wholly impartial and reliable source of the most comprehensive statistical and analytical report on the shape of ICT markets across the world. 

For its part, The Worlds Bank’s Information and Communications for Development 2012 Report states that the mobile revolution is right at the start of its growth curve with mobile devices becoming cheaper and more powerful while networks are doubling in bandwidth and expanding into rural areas. This development has presented a huge opportunity for Africa which is regarded as, the world’s biggest online market of the future. The continent has the fastest growing mobile phone market penetration with subscription rates growing at 278% between 2005 and 2010 and with the total application market expected to reach US $15 billion in revenue this year. Botswana currently enjoys low technological entry barriers and fixed costs which presents the country with the opportunity to participate and reap social and economic gains from a burgeoning ICT sector.

In seizing this opportunity, the country has established the Botswana Innovation Hub to contribute to the country’s economic development and competiveness by creating new scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based business opportunities. The company has identified ICT as one of the focus sectors in which it acts as a catalyst in the development of the ICT industry and creation of an innovation supporting ecosystem. The company supports the development of innovative local content, skills and job creation as part of the National ICT development strategy and e-government.

In the quest to grow the industry, Botswana Innovation Hub has appointment an ICT Developer Community Officer to establish and nurture the growth of a dynamic and market relevant ICT Developer community. Ms Tirelo Ramasedi joins Botswana Innovation Hub to stimulate the establishment, growth and engagement of an ICT Developer community.

Ramasedi is of the view that a robust ICT Developer Community is a necessary catalyst in the drive to have effective innovation and technology based economic expansion. She believes that in supporting the company’s major strategic initiative for developing advanced science and technology capital and activities the local ICT Developer Community must be coordinated and engaged. “We have the skills and competencies to produce quality products and services that will help us benefit from the rapid economic and social dividends that accrue from easy access to the internet and its technologies,” she says.

Director of Marketing, Registration and ICT at Botswana Innovation Hub, Dr Geoffrey Seleka says the country has one of the most progressive National ICT Policy’s called Maitlamo. He says, “Maitlomo has liberalised the telecommunications industry and established excellent ICT infrastructure in the form of Nteletsa 1 and 2 and Cloud Computing Data Centres to give the country access to world class bandwidth and quality, cost effective service.

Selaka however cautions that while the country currently has one of the highest levels of mobile and fixed-line penetration in Africa it faced challenges of unemployed IT graduates and a low ranking of engagement in e-governance. He points out that the mass availability of smartphones and rising use of internet following improvements in international connectivity is a most welcome development that will invariably result in mass access to the web. Seleka is optimistic that, “The low technological entry barriers and fixed costs offer vast revenue and growth potential for entrepreneurs and job creation.