27 Nov 2019

Funding for research and development is not routed through Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, but allocated directly to each ministry.

This was explained by the Minister of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe in Parliament who noted that what was allocated to his ministry was only for its activities and those of its parastatals.

Dr Letsholathebe said the most common research output had been research publications produced by research in academic as well as research institutions.

He said his ministry’s investment of research and development as a percentage of GDP over financial years 2013/14 to date were 0.016 for 2013/14, 0.102 for 2014/15, while 2015/16 registered 0.0103, for the year 2016/17 it was 0.034, 2017/18  recorded 0.182 and 2018/19 was 0.099.

He noted that other research outputs included solutions or products developed by researchers in their institutions, adding that BITRI released eight solutions during the period of 2013 to 2019.

He said three patents were registered during this period by BITRI and BIUST. BITRI registered a patent titled: Target Strength Kalahari Sand Design Mixes while BIUST registered two patents namely: An electrical switching system for a building or installation and A farmyard access control system and method.

Dr Letsholathebe said his ministry was desirous that there should be more investment in research and development, adding that with funds permitting they would like to review the grant-scheme so that it could also cater for graduate studies.

He explained that they also envisaged the transformation of the Botswana Innovation Hub so that it could cater for the entire research and innovation cycle, and in that regard have a Botswana Research and Innovation Fund.

The Minister said investment needed to come from both government and the private sector as well as donor agencies.

However, Dr Letsholathebe said they were nonetheless alive to the fact that government’s ability to increase funding for research was constrained by the fact that there were competing needs for the limited financial resources.

He said they would continue to make a case for increased funding for research during the budget development process as well as to lobby the private sector and development partners to invest in research in Botswana.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked them minister to give update on the amount relative to GDP spent by his ministry annually since year 2013/2014 to date especially on research and development.

Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know the consequent research output and whether it was satisfactory, the number of patents registered and whether or not there were plans to invest more on research and development. ENDS