29 May 2017

Researchers at Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) spend most of their time focusing on resolving challenges that society faces.

This was said by BITRI chief executive officer, Professor Nelson Torto during a stakeholder engagement seminar at the just ended Business Botswana Northern Trade Fair on May 27.

Professor Torto highlighted that his organisation exists to service the nation and noted that every challenge was an opportunity for innovation for their researchers.

He said they did an analysis to find out what they wanted to be, adding that empathy was at the core of the organisation’s mandate.

“Now that we know what we are, we urge members of the public and the business community to bring challenges to us,” he said.

Professor Torto said they partnered with Business Botswana in order to drive innovation in the private sector.

In addition, he said they want to bring technologies that had an impact on people’s lives.

For her part, the mayor of Francistown City, Ms Sylvia Muzila implored BITRI to partner with the city in order to make it an investment destination of choice.

She added that the city was looking for investments in all sectors, and noted that innovation would be key in their quest to economically transform the second city.

Established in 2012, BITRI conducts need based research and development in focused areas.

It also identifies, develops and adapts appropriate technology solutions that provide sustainable innovative solutions through co-creation and collaboration in line with the national priorities and needs.

The technologies aim to maximise the use of local materials to ensure efficiency and affordability.

Research at BITRI is carried out under the building materials science division which focuses on needs based research and development of new innovative building materials from natural raw materials.

The climate change division focuses on the impact of climate change on agriculture, water resources and health sectors such as risks of droughts, extreme weather events and vector borne diseases.

The nanomaterials division focuses on filtration, diagnostics and speciality chemicals.

Other departments include the technologies and research and partnerships. ENDS