30 Nov 2014

Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) has started key initiatives and projects since it was established in 2012, the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi  informed Parliament on November 27.

Mr Molefhi explained, in response to a question in parliament, that BIH was established to nurture creativity and innovation in technological developments and build capacity for economic diversification.

Some of the initiatives, Mr Molefhi stated, included the piloting of the use of TV White Space in collaboration with stakeholders at Athlone Hospital and Tsopeng Clinic, and the launching of Kitso Works Programme in conjunction with Microsoft Innovation Centre and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

He said the Kitso Works programme was designed to give youth exclusive access via internet and mobile phones, to courses for professional skills development and improved employability.

“The platform provides a search engine, youth mentoring and social and professional networking and has so far registered more than 300 beneficiaries and reached users through social media and online campaign,” said the minister.

Additionally, Mr Molefhi said BIH had established a technology entrepreneurship programme called First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) that supports start-up technology companies through pre-incubation and acceleration services.

“It is open to everyone with innovative potential business idea with emphasis on BIH focus areas of ICT, Biotechnology, Mining Technologies, and Clean Technologies. Currently fifteen registered entities are supported by the programme with daily services offered to walk in clients of different entrepreneurial development schemes,” explained the minister.

He said one of FSVC clients’ innovative developments with potential for success was Modisar, which is a farm management application that enables farmers to manage livestock and finances and have access to community of farmers and expertise in livestock management at the click of a button.

Mr Molefhi said other initiatives by BIH included the development of a Clean-Tech Centre to support business development and research in the clean technologies of relevance in Botswana, and developing the key components of mining technology supply.

The MP for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister to inform Parliament about the inventions by BIH since its establishment and sectors that had benefitted from those inventions. ENDS