07 Apr 2019

Three patents have been registered by Botswana based researchers in the past five years, Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Mr Fidelis Molao has said.

Of these, he said, one has been registered locally with the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) and the remaining two with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Mr Molao stated that 14 diverse innovations and inventions had been produced by Botswana based research and innovation institutions in the past five years.

They include among others, Signcoach Computer application, Foot and Mouth diagnostic lateral strip as well as drought resistant cowpea.

He further explained that the development of innovations and inventions by tended to take a long time.

He however said research and innovation institutions were able to progress their work to that stage.

The assistant minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse regarding the number of patents registered in Botswana in the last five years as well as innovations and inventions that came from any laboratory, university, Botswana Innovation Hub or any local institution.

He was also to state  the reasons for the status quo. ENDS