10 Oct 2018

Researchers have been urged to ensure that they play an important part in the transformation of  Botswana’s economy from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.

Officiating at the inaugural  national researchers conference in Gaborone on Monday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr

Theophilus Mooko said research was one of the critical drivers of a knowledge-based economy and that researchers had to focus on ensuring that the research they undertook had an impact on society.

He noted that there was a lot of research going on in the country, but said they needed to develop a national research agenda, adding that the conference was a step towards building the agenda.

Dr Mooko said the two-day conference which was held under the theme: Igniting research dialogue for societal change: New pathways towards a knowledge economy, was appropriate because Botswana valued dialogue.

He stated that the theme was linked to the value which Batswana had cherished for a long time. He added that it also spoke to setting alight research dialogue geared towards social change.

For the several research institutions that had been established to drive research such as Botswana Institute of Technology, Research and Innovation, Botswana Innovation Hub, Botswana University of Agriculture and National Natural Resources, including both the public and private, Dr Mooko said they were expected to make a difference in the lives of

Batswana by making the country a knowledge-based economy.

Dr Mooko also said the country needed to step up efforts to improve on the teaching of science, technology and mathematics at all levels of the education system.

He added that technical and vocational education were equally important, and that Botswana needed them together with an entrepreneurial culture to realise an innovative society.

Dr Mooko also said there was a need to identify and support indigenous knowledge holders.

He said there was a rise in cases where indigenous knowledge holders were exploited, noting that they were important players in the eco-system.

He appealed for collaboration with them for the benefit of society.

On the international perspective and experience on research, Professor Mohamed Shariff of the University Putra in Malaysia said it was important to transform Botswana into an innovation led country.

Prof. Sharif said innovation of products or processes for further development and commercialisation was important for creating an innovative culture.

He pointed out that there must diversity in products that the country exported to other countries.

Prof. Sharif called for more focus at the policy level and diversification into value adding projects.

He also said there was need to prioritise research in ordeer to be champion in a few areas. Ends