27 Nov 2013

The Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) will today (November 28) launch the Clean Tech Centre at the University of Botswana (UB).

This was revealed by Dr Budzanani Tacheba, Director of Cluster Development at BIH, during a session meant to share ideas on water conservation technologies and development of businesses that address water shortage.

The Clean Tech Centre of Expertise shall support the creation of new innovative self-sustained businesses that will respond to national and international market needs. BIH has partnered with Lund University and Krinova Science Park in Sweden to establish the centre of expertise program me within the BIH, with support from the Swedish government through the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

“This week has been branded Clean Tech week, and the launch will promote and facilitate sectoral growth of businesses in renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation,” said Dr Tacheba.

He said the center of expertise will engage industry, academia, as well as public and private sector to facilitate growth. He added that Botswana is faced with many challenges that require a different approach from the conventional way of doing things.

He explained that the Innovation Café series addresses and documents such potential solutions to facilitate a collective approach to problem solving. While he acknowledged that such challenges may require policy interventions which may take a long time to effect, Dr Tacheba reassured stakeholders that BIH shall continue on its chosen course of supporting provision of solutions. ENDS