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Experts: Spend more on research

patriot by patriot
January 26, 2021
in Business
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Experts: Spend more on research
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Botswana’s attempts to build a Knowledge-based economy will take a serious effort to invest more in research so as to diversify the source of wealth that contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as diversifying the economy, say research experts.

Researchers, innovators and captains of the industry made this known during the Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (STEM) festival that ran concurrently with the Research and Innovation Symposium (RAIS) at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) in Palapye this week.

The Head of  Ore Processing at Debswana Mining Diamond Company, Edwin Elias, said the 0.3% GDP share for STEM cannot take Botswana closer to the pace setters in the knowledge economy race.

He said while the country may not possibly afford 3% of GDP share for Research and Development like nations such as Japan, Botswana should strive to direct at least 2% of GDP towards Research and Development.

“The National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation highlights the criticality of policies that stimulate the translation of scientific and technological capabilities into knowledge-intensive, value-added and services across all sectors of the economy,” charged Elias.

He said BIUST was established to become a vehicle for science and technology through research and technology transfer and urged it to double its efforts in engaging the private sector.

Elias is of the view that BIUST and private sector partnership is crucial for co-STEM development. He challenged the industry to realise the immeasurable potential it can ride on in partnership with the university.

Oabona Nthebolang, Manager for Graduate Research and Innovation at Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), said government should consider paradigm shift by fully funding the organs like HRDC mandated for research.

He bemoaned the P50 000 research and innovation grant administered by HRDC, saying it was insufficient to conduct a costly in nature innovative research in a long period of time.

Experts warned that Botswana will not see the reality of the knowledge economy under the current circumstances.

Government currently – through the ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOTE) – is pledging 0.3% of GDP as funding for research in the STEM field.

Initially, BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo said the STEM and RAIS projects are meant to highlight research’s innovation uniqueness or in-depth inquiry into issues that require solutions to challenges that communities face in the midst of 4th industrial revolution.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education Mosieraele Goya said the National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) of 2011 intends to create a supportive environment for research development.

He said this will impact economic growth by creating a robust national system of innovation, adding that the policy intends to increase funding in research and development to at least 2% of GDP as per the recommendation.

Goya revealed that currently, the government’s contribution to research and development stood at 0.07% of the GDP in 2016/17 financial year while in the previous year stood at 0.09%.

The STEM\RAIS was held under the theme “STEM Driven Economy: Transforming Research into Profitable Products and Services”.    

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  • Killings of journalists up 50% in 2022, half targeted off duty    January 25, 2023
    Eighty-six journalists and media workers were killed around the world in 2022 – one every four days, according to UNESCO data, highlighting the grave risks and vulnerabilities that journalists continue to face in the course of their work.   […]
  • Judge Tau; please don’t stifle public scrutiny of the Court of AppealJanuary 25, 2023
    Her utterances are misplaced and must be condemned with the contempt it deserves ADAM PHETLHE The Patriot on Sunday dated 15 January 2022 carried an article titled ‘Judge Tau defends CoA Integrity’, with sub-headings “Complains of discrediting reckless statements; […]
  • Miss Botswana 2022 is the Face of KGK DiamondsJanuary 19, 2023
    Its been an exciting first week back to her MBW duties and we kick off the year with an official announcement that Our Queen is The face of KGK Diamonds. Lesego Chombo alongside Nigel Amos was the show stopper […]
  • Executives to watch in 2023January 19, 2023
    A year is often too short to demonstrate your worth, yet that’s exactly what the newly appointed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have to do to show that they deserve their enviable roles. PATRIOT BUSINESS looks at CEOs who shall […]
  • BLP TEST AP/BCP UNITY TALKSJanuary 19, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw The new entrant in the cooperation talks between Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) – Botswana Labour Party (BLP) has thrown spanner in the works by demanding that both AP and BCP yield […]
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