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The University of Botswana (UB) is taking bold steps to strengthen its role in fostering innovation and development through research. Speaking at a Research Strategy Development Workshop held in Gaborone from 29th to 30th August 2024, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, emphasised UB’s commitment to driving research that creates social impact, productivity and development.

Professor Ramogola-Masire underscored the university’s responsibility to spearhead innovation in ways that unlocked value chains to align with the country's shift from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

The workshop was part of UB’s efforts to align its research agenda with national policies to ensure that academic work contributed to the broader goals of societal advancement. Professor Ramogola-Masire highlighted the need for research and development to serve society and not merely focus on commercialisation, pointing to the imperative of addressing real-world challenges through academic innovation.

She expressed gratitude to the participants of the workshop by emphasising that the knowledge acquired represented a step forward in ongoing learning and awareness. She noted that insights gained on strategies and policies would aid in creating frameworks applicable on both national and global scales.

Co-founder of Koya Capital, a learning transformation consultancy, Ms Hadzi Magoro, elaborated on the importance of research commercialisation and intellectual property. She explained that intellectual property was a key component in turning research work into commercial products or services. According to Ms Magoro, having a robust policy framework governing commercialisation and intellectual property was crucial for achieving productivity and contributing to both societal development and economic growth.

Addressing the National System of Innovation agenda, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Ambros Makgonatsotlhe, highlighted that research and innovation played a critical role in economic growth and solving societal problems.

Consequently, he said the Ministry was establishing partnerships with institutions such as UB to align ideas with national priorities and goals. By providing a conducive environment for innovation and technology commercialisation through funding and support, such efforts helped catalyse productivity.

Head of the Academy for the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), Dr Outule Rapuleng, spoke on intellectual property governance, highlighting its significance as a global phenomenon.

He explained that ARIPO, an inter-governmental organisation, facilitated cooperation among member states on intellectual property matters, offering skills training, research and collaborations. Such efforts aim at strengthening the protection of African-origin intellectual property to foster the growth of research and innovation across the continent.