03 Aug 2015

The Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology will officially launch the science, technology and innovation (STI) month today.

A release from the ministry says the science, technology and innovation month is an initiative derived from the SADC science and technology minister’s STI week, which is aimed at building awareness and nurturing interest in science, technology and innovation as well as to encourage investment in research and development, which is low in the region. 

It states that the theme of the month long commemoration is research, science, technology and innovation: The solution to current socio-economic challenges.

Activities lined up for the commemoration include a grassroots innovation design-focused summit that will produce prototypes of indigenous development-oriented technologies and business model canvas for communities in D’Kar.

There will also be a public seminar, prize giving ceremony for the BITRI nanotechnology challenge in Gaborone, the STI week and a seminar on the public understanding of science, technology andiInnovation in Kang, and a technology and innovation exhibition vendor day in Gaborone.

The release states that other activities will include youth in science and technology campaign that seeks to raise awareness on STI as well as to raise a networking platform for youth researchers, innovators and inventors.

The press statement states that while science and technology is recognised as a vehicle which drives successful economies across the world, it is estimated that developing countries expenditure in research and development accounts for less than one per cent of GDP compared to three per cent in developed countries. 

The communique states that the revised Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of 2011 supports an increase of two per cent of the GDP in research and development.

Increased public awareness and private sector participation in science, technology and innovation provides an incentive for business enterprises and governments to invest in research and development. Ends