05 Nov 2025

Plans to establish the National Research and Innovation Council, which will be mandated with overseeing national research processes are at an advanced stage.

The development is part of the government’s commitment to strengthening the coordination and facilitation of national research programmes.

Presenting proposed projects and programmes under his ministry during NDP 12, the Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere said his ministry was requesting P10.6 billion, from which P5.2 billion would fund research and development to position Botswana as a globally competitive knowledge management hub.

Mr Tshere said the approval of the National Research Agenda 2025-2029 in July paved way for government to finance various institutions to undertake their research and development projects, while the implementation of the Botswana Centre for Nuclear, Science, and Technology would be funded by the private sector.

“The project is positioned as a special purpose vehicle to deliver nuclear health, agriculture and water research as well as human capital development,” he said.

He said these initiatives would augment ongoing research projects, which emanated from NDP 11, Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) and those currently undertaken by the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI).

He also said employment opportunities would be created through exploring technology and innovative strategies.

Minister Tshere said prioritised projects included Research Fund, Innovation Fund, indigenous knowledge initiatives and the research capacity building project, among others. Another top priority was developing Information and Communication Technology(ICT) toward improved digital competitiveness at an estimated cost of P5.3 billion, said Mr Tshere.

Premised to increase ICT sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, Mr Tshere said the envisaged projects were expected to drive the economy digitalisation drive.

“The outcome of digitalisation envisaged is to achieve efficiency, increased productivity, increased and multiple revenue streams for government, businesses and individuals, and in the process create opportunities for employment,” he explained.

Mr Tshere noted that the remaining P198.5 million was required to procure, install and commission Radioactive Material Border Detection System at Pioneer Border as well as the construction of an Orphan Radioactive storage facility at Palapye. ENDS