02 Oct 2015

Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) and Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their research collaborations. 

Speaking at the signing ceremony recently, BITRI CEO, Prof. Nelson Torto said formalising a working relationship with NCRST was a great opportunity because the two countries had common issues that affected their citizens.

By signing the MoU, Prof. Torto said, the two organisations agreed to work together even though they were different operationally. 

NCRST, he said, was involved in facilitating research and funding researchers, whereas BITRI was a player in the research domain.

Therefore, he added that through such agreement, BITRI would be able to access opportunities in Namibia. 

“So, it’s good for us, because for areas that we are researching on, they can facilitate movements of researchers between Namibia and Botswana, for instance, to be able to address areas of common interest,” he added.

Furthermore, he said through the MoU, BITRI wanted NCRST to facilitate introduction of solar streetlights in Namibia. 

He noted that BITRI was involved in solar technology and planned to increase its efforts by producing solar streetlights in its facilities in Kanye.

“We went to the Southern District Council, with the minister where he was addressing the full council meeting. We want to be able to produce solar streetlights and assemble them at those facilities in Kanye,” said Prof. Torto.

“And because of that, we also hope to see an expansion in terms of our market for solar streetlights and we are hoping that through our colleagues in Namibia, we can be able to have access, not only in Namibia, but also to research around those areas,” he added.

On one hand, NCRST CEO, Dr Eino Mvula said a detailed action plan that would allow for implementation of the agreement would be developed.  

On focus on solar streetlights, Dr Mvula said NCRST might also want to look into other areas of collaboration. 

Collaborations, he said helped NCRST in promoting linkages between Namibia and international institutions and bodies on development of research, science and technology.

“We could have an opportunity for collaboration in accessing some of the state of the art facilities that we have here, and vice versa, so that we allow for the movement capability of researchers between the two countries,” he said. Ends