One of the most efficient hubs in Africa is the Botswana Innovation Hub. Botswana Innovation Hub is incorporated as a company to develop and operate Botswana’ s first Science and Technology Park to create an environment that supports start-ups and existing local companies as well as attract international companies and institutions to develop and grow competitive technology driven and knowledge-based businesses.
As part of our mission to offer a unique platform for scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge-based innovation, Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park has been strategically located on a 57-hectare site, near the Sir Seretse Khama International airport and adjacent to the Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
This park is an ideal location to build and provide state-of-the-art building and facilities to attract domestic, regional and global companies to locate businesses well as research and development activities. Botswana Innovation Hub supports the growth of techno-rich business enterprises over the long term to increase the wealth of the local knowledge intensive community, promote a culture of innovation, and stimulate the competitiveness of member companies and knowledge-based institutions.
When fully developed, the Science and Technology Park will consist of world class facilities including state-of the- art telecommunications infrastructure with high capacity international connectivity and secured power, professional business services, and business development services. The business services will allow companies to concentrate on their core business.
The development programs, together with the support for R&D and the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship, will make Botswana Innovation Hub an ideal place for business development.
Botswana Innovation Hub key focus sectors are Information Communication Technology, Biotechnology, Mining Technology and Clean Technology.
In his 2018 CEO’s Statement, Alan Boshwaen reported that “Knowledge exchange, catalytic dialogue and the establishment of symbiotic relationships and partnerships is a critical component of what we believe is needed to allow our innovation ecosystem to thrive. As such, we place great emphasis and pride in our ability to bring people together, under our roof at the ICON Building, affording them the opportunity to engage with each other.
During the year, we facilitated numerous diverse engagements, culminating in the inaugural hosting of our annual flagship innovation exposition and conference, Innovation Botswana 2018.
This session fell under the theme; “Igniting the Innovation Spirit” and it attracted 65 exhibitors, more than 250 delegates and hundreds of visitors.
Another priority area for BIH, is unlocking the resources needed to support members of our innovation ecosystem.
I am pleased to announce that in 2018 the Botswana Innovation Fund was launched and issued its first call for proposals to existing BIH members who were at prototype development phase. The Botswana Innovation Fund Committee approved seven (7) projects to be granted funding to the tune of BWP 5,6 million.
In view of our commitment to establishing beneficial partnerships, it is always encouraging when we see our efforts bear fruit. One such example is our success in securing additional funding of EUR 1 200 000 (BWP 12 000 000) through our partnership with the Southern Africa Innovation Support Program (SAIS).
This funding will go towards projects that include those to be delivered by local consortia companies over the next 18 to 24 months. Additionally, BIH in partnership with Dimension Data, successfully commissioned the BIH Carrier Neutral Data Centre to support innovation through enabling digital transformation“.
Source: BIH
