17 Jul 2014

Research entities have been urged to engage in relevant research in order to take research to the next level, says Professor Otlogetswe Totolo.

Board chairperson of Botswana Institute of Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) said at the inaugural stakeholder engagement workshop that as a result of such efforts, research should be able to come up with products and services.

“We need to come up with products and services that can make a difference in the lives of Batswana wherever they are,” he said. Professor  Totolo said gone were the days whereby elites only produced journal articles without producing any tangible products.

He said it was about time that researchers do not only concentrate on theory in order to bring about return on investments.

Professor  Totolo decried that gross expenditure on research was not enough, adding that all winning nations such as Sweden, Finland, Japan and USA spent money on research, adding that most African countries did not go beyond one per cent on research and development expenditure.

“The winning nations spend more than three per cent of their Gross Domestic Product on research and development,” he said.

He said in Botswana, there was a huge challenge when it comes to research because despite lofty ideas raised, there was no support from government.
However, he called for gradual increase on research funds for them to win and realise their goals.

Chief executive officer of BITRI, Professor Nelson Torto said BITRI has been mandated to deliver high standard technology solutions that maximise the beneficiation of local resources as well as better the lives of Batswana.

He said the organisation also conducts research and identify appropriate technologies in line with national priorities and needs of Batswana.

Professor  Torto also said BITRI commercialises the intellectual property obtained from the organisation’s research and development as well as promote technology transfer through collaboration with specialised agencies and partners.

BITRI is an infant research institution that was formed by merger between Rural Industries Promotion Company (Botswana) (RIPCO-B) and Botswana Technology Centre (BOTEC). It started operating in July 2013. ENDS