On Friday, 5th of May 2023 University of Botswana delivered yet another first following the launch of the country’s first University Technology Transfer Office and Innovation Centre today. The purpose of the center is to strengthen research and development of innovative products with commercial value.
Located at the heart of the University of Botswana main campus, the facility was officially launched by the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, His Honour Mr Slumber Tsogwane who also donated P20 000 towards the Centre. The University of Botswana Innovation Centre was established with the support of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Botswana.
Also, in attendance to mark the momentous occasion were Hon. Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Aubrey Lesaso, Hon. Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulaganyo Segokgo, Hon. Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare and H.E. Mr Wang Xuefeng, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana. Mr Wang underlined the importance of the facility in helping to usher Botswana into a knowledge-based economy, and indeed the University’s role in championing applied research as an integral part of the country’s development agenda.
Through the Innovation Centre, the University of Botswana intends to reenergize and give further impetus to the country ‘s agenda of strengthening the national innovation capacity framework and entrepreneurship development support. This will be achieved by, among others, adapting research concepts at their early stages into industrial products to feed into the national innovation ecosystem at a higher level.
The University of Botswana sees its role in the socio-economic development of Botswana as crucial, working to help address key challenges as well as to innovate for progress. This includes working to enhance access to ICT resources, and equipment, and building a network of experts in the local and global market. The issues outlined are also noted as obstacles in the development of entrepreneurship and innovators which the Centre as a community technology transfer office, is expected to address. The University is, therefore, committed to creating an ecosystem for greater and more sustainable innovation as well as continuing to produce graduates that shape industries and societies.
