11 Nov 2021

Government will soon replicate the idea of France’s  Station F, the world’s largest business start-up incubators, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has announced.

In an interview during his tour of Station F campus Wednesday,  he said the facility provided a realistic answer to government’s dream of developing Botswana Innovation and Digital Hub and its expansion to Orapa House.

Botswana Innovation and Digital Hub provides an ideal location for technology-driven and knowledge-intensive businesses to establish themselves, develop and compete in the regional and global markets. 

For his part, Station F’s community and communication director, Mr Gregoire Martines said the facility had 1 000 start-ups, 30 plus programmes and a full range of services. 

He said it featured resources both on campus and online, including a huge investor community. 

Mr Martines said entrepreneurs from across the world could apply at any given time for admission in any area of their interest. 

He urged Batswana and other Africans to take advantage of the services offered to grow their  businesses. 

Station F provides training across various fields using technology to start up innovative ideas.  SmartBots coordinator and also President Masisi’s ICT advisor, Professor Vasilis Koulolias said Botswana could copy the Station F Model to help enterprises to participate in the public sector digital transformation.

Professor Koulolias said Station F was a good example of how innovation could take place when the public sector, community and researchers came together to provide solutions which in turn brought about employment. 

He said Botswana could also copy the Station F model to build different clusters such as in mining and agriculture. ENDS