25 Aug 2016

Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) chief executive officer, Mr Alan Boshwaen has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two directors of Global Commercialisation Centre (GCC) and Global IT Technology Programme (ITTP) to promote technical cooperation and share mutual assistance.

The companies’ two directors, Professor Munkee Choi of GCC and Professor JaeJeung Rho of ITTP, are both from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology .

According to a press release from BIH public relations and communication manager, Mr Tigele Mokobi, this will see the company becoming a regional technology commercialisation centre.

The release states that MoU outlines how the three parties will work with the National Technology Transfer Office (TTO) resident at the BIH to share mutual assistance and promote technical cooperation.

The MoU defines technical cooperation as building a cooperative network between Korea and Botswana through the TTO as a regional hub of GCC with the aim of promoting global technology transfer and commercialization, says the release.

It further says the envisioned technology transfer and commercialisation will be underpinned by technology demand surveys that have been conducted through the TTO.

More technology demand surveys have been planned and these will help identify and promote cooperation in Korean or Botswana research, technology and innovation agencies, industries and firms with promising technologies to promote value creation in economies.

The parties, will further undertake to work towards the development of technology commercialisation business models and support business activities for participating companies and agencies to implement and expand partnership opportunities in both Korea and Botswana.

They will also jointly conduct conferences, forums, workshops and several other activities that advance knowledge and strengthen human capital relevant to innovation capacity, says the release.

It further states that speaking at the signing ceremony, Professor Munkee Choi, who is also Korea’s former minister of science, ICT and future planning said, “the parties will develop technology commercialisation business models and support business activities for participating companies and agencies to implement and expand partnership opportunities in both Korea and Botswana.”  

He said the GCC technology commercialisation method entails a three pronged approach of Product Localisation where an ICT product or service requires support for the commercialisation process in the domestic or foreign market; Co-Project which seeks partners with sufficient technical expertise to collaborate in order to commercialise product or service; and Technology Transfer which imparts technological and intellectual property to further development of products or services.

The release quotes Mr Boshwaen as having said “networks and collaborations between academia, public and private sectors helps build a vibrant national innovation ecosystem and we are happy with this latest endorsement as a regional technology commercialisation centre.” Ends