May 2014 bih innogram by Kabelo Kenneth Tlhomelang

Innogram The Official Botswana Innovation Hub Quarterly Newsletter

May 2014

#WeHaveAGoodStoryToTell

#FirstStepsVentureSteps1YearOn

#InnovationFund

#GreenEconomy #EcosystemDevelopment

#IASP2014Africa #STPdevelopment

Member of

www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

OFFERING

Incentive Registration • 15% Corporate Tax • Labour Dispensation

• Microsoft Innovation Centre • Southern Africa Innovation Support • Council on Health Research for Development • Clean Tech

Technology Entrepreneurship Development

• First Step Venture Centre

• Seed and Early Stage Funding for Science and Technology

www.bih.co.bw

Rental Space within the Central Building • Competitive office and laboratories for rentals • Superior ICT infrastructure and services

Innovation Fund

Maranyane House Plot 50654, Machel Drive Private Bag 00265 Gaborone, Botswana

Strategic Partnership/ Collaborations

Property Development to Advance Science and Technology Development • Serviced land for long term commercial an industrial lease and development. • Business and technology support services

Tel: +267 391 3328 Fax: +267 391 3289 Email: info@bih.co.bw www.bih.co.bw

May 2014 | Innogram

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Innogram | May 2014

Credits Managing Editor Dr Geoffrey Seleka Editor Tigele Mokobi Contributing Writers

Contents Progress

Hugh Tyrell Kabelo Tlhomelang

Page 12

Budzanani Tacheba PhD

Cultivating an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Thamani Shabani (BOPA) Mmoniemang Motsamai (BOPA) Goitsemodimo Williams Abednico Montshiwa Kagiso Thamane Stephen Seporo John Churu Design Kabelo Tlhomelang Camera Kagiso Mathame Tirelo Ramasedi Tigele Mokobi

Update Page 14

Park Development

Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in Innogram. Neither Innogram nor Botswana Innovation Hub assume responsibility for errors or ommissions. The Editor reserves the right to amend and alter copy and visual material as deemed necessary. All rights reseerved: No part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied, transmitted or modified in any form or by any means. This publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any retrievable system.

Contact

Tel: +267 391 3328 Fax: +267 391 3289 Web: www.bih.co.bw E-mail: info@bih.co.bw Office: Maranyane House, Machel Drive, Gaborone Post: Private Bag 00265, Gaborone, Botswana

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Event Page 8

IASP African Division Conference 2014 Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note Foreword The Evolution of Science and Technology Parks IASP Africa Division Conference 2014 BIH at 30th IASP Annual Conference FSVC Energises Innovators We Have A Good Story To Tell Cultivating an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Park Development Park Water #FirstStepsVentureCentre celebrates its 1st year Unpacking The Business Incubation Concept Launch of the CleanTech Centre The Green Economy Has Arrived Microsoft Innovation Centre Government Encouraged by Youth Appetite for Participation SAiS Demand-Driven Mining Supply Chain Business Incubation Model Project 2014 Youth mHealth Innovation Competition Launced Stakeholder Engagement Campaign CEO Commits to Regular Media Briefs Decrypt Innovation Fund Coming Soon

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May 2014 | Innogram

Editor’s Note Botswana Innovation Hub is a company wholly-owned by the Government of the Republic of Botswana. Set up as a product of the 2008 National Excellence Strategy, the company aims to develop advanced S&T (science and technology) innovation capital and activities in the country by attracting innovators, channelling the requisite support services and conditioning the investment climate. At the centre of our work is our attractive state-of-the-art Science and Technology Park. Around this we build opportunities in tenancy, membership, a globally-connected innovation ecosystem, and worldclass client services. Vision • The leading destination for innovation in Africa Mission • To offer a unique platform for scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge based innovation Mandate Statement The company is incorporated: • to develop and operate a science and technology park • to contribute to economic development and competitiveness by creating new scientific technological, and indigenous knowledge based business opportunities • to add value to existing companies , fostering entrepreneurship and technology transfer, generating knowledge based jobs • to attract innovative companies and institutions to Botswana Innovation Hub www.bih.co.bw

e bring you good tidings. I grew up I wanting to be a pilot like my cousin Mukani Mokobi, but there were few places outside the army where one could pursue such a career and as things turned out, I never made it into the Botswana Defence Force. Instead fate curved a long and winding path that ultimately led me to Botswana Innovation Hub. Here I am part of a small but dynamic team of enthusiastic torchbearers that has been called upon to set up Botswana’s first science and technology park. I am honoured to be part of this ensemble in Botswana’s game changing initiative, out to rewrite our national legacy and play a role in setting our country on a sustainable and effective economic growth path. Botswana Innovation Hub is set to achieve this by contributing towards the diversification of the economy away from diamond mining towards a competitive knowledge-based and technology-driven economy. Following the bungling of major national projects in recent years, this initiative carries the hopes and aspirations of the nation and government, and the public at large are placing a huge premium and enormous pressure on Botswana Innovation Hub to deliver the state-of-theart science and technology park on time and within budget. In the short time since its establishment as a company, Botswana Innovation Hub has taken huge strides towards the realization of its key deliverables and the team here believes we have a good story to tell and this publication brings you good tidings. In this edition we share the success story of the company as it reaches sufficient levels of physical, institutional, and human capital operations that meet stakeholder expectations. We celebrate the critical milestones we have achieved in the development of an effective governance framework, and operational processes and policies that deliver on the Botswana Innovation Hub offering and mandate and the strengthening of human capital relevant to advance innovation capacity. We share with you progress on the delivery of world

class physical infrastructure and the specialised innovation support services that we offer as well as the promotion of networking and collaboration between academic, public and private sectors in the enhancement of innovation capacity. We also share with you some of the programmes we are currently running that foster entrepreneurship and technology transfer as well as build innovation capacity. These include the progress of the First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC), the technology entrepreneurship development programme that turns one this year, as well as the launch of the CleanTech programme which provides innovative solutions for the energy and environmental focus areas of the Botswana Innovation Hub. Programmes ran by the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) and the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme are also profiled. Also within these pages are details of the 2014 IASP (International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation) Africa Division Conference which brought world leaders, experts and professionals from science and technology parks, areas of innovation, technology-based incubators, academia, the public sector and business to our realm. The conference was a resounding success and demonstrated how the notion that, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” rings true as Botswana Innovation Hub forms part of the greater picture that is the overall success of the African continent. The achievement demonstrate that we are off to a good start of keeping to our mandate and schedule, and as we move from planning to implementation, we are proud to say, “We have a good story to tell and we bring you good tidings.” The edition is sprinkled with a healthy dose of pictures that depict the ongoing work at Botswana Innovation Hub and we hope they add colour and perspective to the narrative. I wish you a happy read. Tigele Mokobi

“Now, more than ever, science, technology and innovation matters as a tool to saving lives, feeding the hungry, creating jobs and improving living standards sustainably. Science, technology and innovation interventions must be brought into the main stream economic planning and policy landscape. It is important to adopt science, technology and innovation as interventions to enhance productivity, create competitiveness, wealth creation and spur the knowledge-based economy.” - Alan Boshwaen www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

Foreword

ntil about a year ago, we had very little to share with our stakeholders about the development of Botswana’s first science and technology park other than a hugely futuristic and conceptual narrative of our plans. In the past year we have moved from strategy formulation to strategy execution, established a Board of Directors complete with a Board Charter, and developed an effective governance framework, processes and policies to deliver on the company’s offering. We have continued to strengthen human capital that is necessary to support and enhance innovation capacity and continue to recruit the right people to deliver on this exciting innovation agenda. With all these critical building blocks in place, we proceeded to work towards building sufficient levels of physical, institutional, and human capital operations that meet our stakeholders’ expectations in the most cost effective and efficient manner. Our recent Board review reflects that we are within schedule and budget to deliver on this exciting and ‘unique platform for science, technology and indigenous knowledge-based innovation.’ Yet another vote of confidence in the work we are doing has recently come from the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP).

The IASP Executive Board has bestowed full member credentials on Botswana Innovation Hub for its fulfilment of all conditions of being operational including having active innovation programmes such as FSVC, MIC, CleanTech Centre, SAIS and making tangible progress in construction of the park. IASP membership confers www.bih.co.bw 6

full IASP accreditation on Botswana Innovation Hub, international visibility, global networking and access to a broad knowledge base with a formidable multiplier of resources and opportunities. As we celebrate these fine achievements, we are emboldened to declare that we have a good story to tell and acting on our earlier commitment, we will continue to communicate the strides we make (and the challenges we encounter) with our broader stakeholders. Innogram is one of the platforms we will utilize to keep the innovation agenda on the front banner. We hosted the hugely successful 2014 IASP Africa Division Conference which brought together leaders, experts and professionals from across the globe to discuss the role of science and technology parks and areas of innovation as increasingly complex structures for professional innovation support that help to achieve local and regional economic development objectives. Going forward, we have an exciting calendar of events lined up for the remainder of the year. The team here will soon embark on an elaborate stakeholder engagement campaign that includes innovation cafés, roadshows, fairs, exhibitions, hackerthons and developer camps. All these events will be communicated through this platform and others to ensure that the innovation discourse is kept alive and that you are all kept in the loop of developments here. I wish you all an informative read. Alan P. Boshwaen CEO

May 2014 | Innogram

The Evolution of Science and Technology Parks By Budzanani Tacheba PhD

he development and strengthening of the national systems of innovation, in line with national and regional Science, Technology, Innovation and economic growth policy frameworks leverages on Science and Technology Parks (STPs) globally to achieve objectives. STPs are generally seen as strategic economic drivers. STP success factors noted elsewhere include country or region development of a fully synegised national system of innovation over time, utilizing its core strength and national resources as an added advantage to outcompete others. The success of innovation ecosystems such as Silicon Valley in the USA were to a larger extent due to the then new sectors of electronics and chip or microprocessor development while utilizing the skills generated from the key local academic research institutes with federal government research grant support. Over the past few decades there have been many attempts to replicate such models in other parts of the world with little success due to the different ecosystems where these attempts were made. International bodies such as the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) were established to among other things develop standard STP framework. According to IASP, a science park is “an organisation managed by specialised professionals whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting a culture of innovation and competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge based institutions.” As a member of IASP, Botswana’s very own Botswana Innovation Hub is mandated to build the country’s first Science and Technology Park (STP) in a bid to transform Botswana into a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy by promoting a culture of innovation

and competitiveness among its associated companies and knowledge-based institutions and as the leading destination for innovation in Africa. Though a first in Botswana, STPs have flourished in other parts of the world. Science and Technology Parks are commonplace in the northern hemisphere, while Africa is still working towards being a continent that is renowned for its innovations in this context. Africa is however making strides towards this with seven African countries currently boasting STPs. These are namely Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Madagascar, Tunisia, Botswana and South Africa. The Icon Building in the Botswana Innovation Hub’s Science and Technology Park, shall be the centerpiece of Botswana’s first STP, and is currently under construction. It is envisaged, under the auspices of Botswana Innovation Hub, that the Icon Building will offer state of the art office and laboratory space for rental and a wide range of business and technology support services. The STP together with the recent opening of the Science and Technology University in Palapye indicates that there is a firm commitment to advancing science and technological development in the country. So far, 48 companies have been registered as Botswana Innovation Hub members and partner institutions. Some of these companies and institutions are ready to occupy spaces at the Park once construction of the first phase is completed in 2015. Botswana Innovation Hub Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boshwaen says, “Botswana Innovation Hub is intended to play a key role in transforming Botswana into a technology-driven and knowledge based economy”. I Budzanani Tacheba PhD www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

IASP Africa Division Conference

2014 By Tigele Mokobi

he establishment of science and technology parks in Africa finds its rationale in the willingness of African countries to seek greater competitiveness of their economies through improved achievement of their scientific, technological and innovation potential, says McLean Sibanda, President of IASP (International Association of Science and Technology Parks and Areas of Innovation) Africa Division. Sibanda, who is also CEO of The Innovation Hub in South Africa, was speaking at the just ended 2014 IASP Africa Division Conference that took place at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) from the 9th to the 11th April 2014.

innovation, technology-based incubators, (all collectively referred to as “STPs & AIs”) academia, the public sector and business.

Botswana Innovation Hub in association with the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme, BoFiNET, Dimension Data, Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Botho University and Orange Botswana hosted the 2014 IASP Africa Division Conference. The conference brought together leaders, experts, and professionals from science and technology parks, areas of

economic challenges. The second sub-theme, Africa and Innovation, discussed the challenges on the continent that science, technology and innovation can and is addressing. The final sub-theme, Science, Technology and Sustainable Development discussed the role of STPs and AIs in sustainable development, with particular emphasis on sustainable energy production, water conservation,

The theme of the conference was ‘Science and Technology Parks (STPs) expanding economic frontiers in Africa.’ The conference had three sub-themes, the first being Science Parks and Economic Diversification which discussed the role STPs play in addressing job creation and socio-

waste management, service delivery and productivity in Africa. IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation with over 388 members in 71 countries. The association connects professionals managing science, technology and research parks and other areas of innovation and pro-

We are confident that the public investment in this Park will create a powerful platform for the interchange of ideas and new linkages to markets for products and services that advance our drive towards knowledge-based economy. - His Honour Vice President Dr P.H. Kedikilwe

vides services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members. Botswana Innovation Hub is a recently full member, up from affiliate, of IASP having worked on operations, service offering and membership volume to qualify for full membership. In an scenario where it is now generally accepted that Africa is the richest continent in the world by natu-

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May 2014 | Innogram

African Division Conference

ral resources but the poorest by bank balance, Africa’s of knowledge has created an enabling environment for blessings must not just be seen in its numerous resourc- the establishment of science and technology parks. Dr es, its biodiversity or its topographical beauty but in its Kedikilwe said science and technology parks have set people who are a spiritual and physical resource. The out to rewrite the African economic order by addressing Botswana Innovation Hub in association with the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme, Dimension Data, BoFinet, BOCRA, Botho University and Orange Botswana hosted the 2014 International Assoc advent of the knowledge-based or weightless economy the African puzzle of abundant resources in the midst of Parks (IASP) and Areas of Innovation (AI) Africa Division Conference from the 9th to the 11th April, 2014 at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas o with where over 388 members in 71 countries. The together leaders, and professionals from Science Technology Parks, areas of innovation, technology-based incubators, the economy is conference driven brought by people, theirexperts, interacpoverty and and how the continent can address this by pro- (all collectively refe AIs) academia, the public sector and businesses. tion and production in the exchange of both explicit and viding unique platforms for knowledge-based economies The three day conference was themed, 'Science and Technology Parks (STP's) expanding economic frontiers in Africa’; with three sub-themes, the first being Science Parks and Economic Diversification which discussed knowledge recognizes assecond the sub-theme, most importhat diversify expand African economic frontiers. play tacit in addressing job creation and socio-economic people challenges. The Africa and Innovation, discussed theand challenges in the continent that science, technology and innovation can and is addressing. sub-theme, Science, Technology and Sustainable Development; discussed the role of STP’s and AI's in sustainable development, with particular emphasis on sustainable energy production, water conservation, waste tant pillar of business success, and information as a criti Dr Kedikilwe said that innovation plays a pivotal role service delivery and productivity in Africa. cal resource that is essential for the knowledge-based to the economic status of countries and that it is critical The major objective of the conference was to discuss and debate in depth the trends in STPs and AIs across Africa and the world as increasingly complex structures for professional innovation support, helping to achie economy. regional economic development objectives. The conference was officially opened by the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Johnie K. Swartz and was addressed by the Director General of IASP, Lu for governments to giveHon.support to projects, companies

Africa Division President of IASP and CEO of South Africa Innovation Hub McLean Sibanda, with delegates from Nigeria (Abuja Science Park Village), Morocco (Techno Park), Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Spain and the local ecosystem amongst others. by Barbra Jansen who states innovation This view is supported and individuals who show interest in innovation. “It is

that, “Information is the currency for knowledge and a social and economic asset whose acquisition enables one to form intelligent opinions and sound business decisions.” She asserts that information is a prerequisite for the development of any individual, organization or nation and is widely regarded as the most democratic form of power, and that power in the politics and economies of the future will flow to those who have the best Duncan Pie videbis est poriat por alis Juha Miettinen, SAiS information and knowledge. CEO Dimension Data Officially opening the conference, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Hon. Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the recognition of the economic value

through innovation that some countries around the world have excelled their economies, hence equipping their people with the necessary tools and support to carry out such projects to sustain their local demands to even the outside markets,” revealed Kedikilwe. He added that with the theme of the conference being ‘Science and Technology Parks expanding economic frontiers in Africa,’ it is no doubt that innovation of new ideas and establishment of technology parks by governments such as the Botswana Innovation Hub is a clear indication that African countries are also identifying the importance of innovation as a critical aspect of boosting

1. Hon. Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe (Vice President, Republic of Botswana) 2. Budzanani Tacheba PhD (Director - Cluter Development, BIH) 3. Mabua Mabua (CEO, BoFiNet) 4. Hon. Johnnie Swartz (Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Republic of Botswana) 5. Luis Sanz (Director General, IASP) 6. Alan Boswaen (CEO, BIH) Neville Comins Hon Odirile Motlhale videbis est poriat por alis Independent Consultant, Chairman of ICT Parliamentary res eressin totatem Pretoria, Republic of South Africa Committee

Mabua Mabua CEO (BOFINET)

Boikanyo Kgosidintsi Director of Ceremony

Charles Siwawa CEO Botswana Chamber of Mines

Hon. Dr Ponatshego H. Kedikilwe, the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana,Opening the Conference.

Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Innovation Hub, Gaborone, Botswana

Mark Gordon CEO VSAD

Site Visit Botswana innovation Hub Scien under construction

Coference Delegates attending the Gala

Sheela Raja Ram Vice Chancellor, Botho University, Gaborone, Botswana

McLean Sibanda Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Dr Kedikilwe IASP President African Division, Hon. J.Swarts ,Minister(MIST) Luis Sanz DG IASP CEO Of Innovation Hub SouthAfrica

Mabed Botswa

Dikagiso Mokotedi Oneh Golding Botho College Exhibitor Permanent secretaty Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology

www.bih.co.bw

The Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) is a product of the Botswana Excellence Strategy of 2008 which proposed a three-pronged national strategic goal; being economic diversification, job creation, and moving the countr

Innogram | May 2014

African African Division Conference

Botswana Innovation Hub in association with the Parks (IASP) and Areas of Innovation (AI) Africa D with over 388 members in 71 countries. The conf AIs) academia, the public sector and businesses.

Botswana Innovation Hub in association with the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme, Dimension Data, BoFinet, BOCRA, Botho University and Orange Botswana hosted the 20 Parks (IASP) and Areas of Innovation (AI) Africa Division Conference from the 9th to the 11th April, 2014 at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). IASP is the worldwide network of sci with over 388 members in 71 countries. The conference brought together leaders, experts, and professionals from Science and Technology Parks, areas of innovation, technology-based incubato AIs) academia, the public sector and businesses.

The three day conference was themed, 'Science a play in addressing job creation and socio-econom The three day conference was themed, 'Science and Technology Parks (STP's) expanding economic frontiers insub-theme, Africa’; with three sub-themes, the Technology first being Science Parks and Sustainable Economic Diversific Science, and play in addressing job creation and socio-economic challenges. The second sub-theme, Africa and Innovation, discussed the challenges in the continent that science, technology and innovation sub-theme, Science, Technology and Sustainable Development; discussed the role of STP’s and AI's in sustainable development, with particular on sustainablein energy production, wate service delivery andemphasis productivity Africa. service delivery and productivity in Africa.

The major objective of the conference was to dis regional economic development objectives. The South Africa and many others. Africa Division President of IASPInnovation and CEO of Sout For his part, Botswana localHub’s innovation ecosystem amongst Speaking at the end ofthethe Marketing, Registration and ICT others.

The major objective of the conference was to discuss and debate in depth the trends in STPs and AIs across Africa and the world as increasingly complex structures for professional innovation su regional economic development objectives. The conference was officially opened by the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Hon. Johnie K. Swartz and was addressed by the Direc Africa economic Division President of IASP and CEO of South Africa Innovation Hub McLean Sibanda, with delegates from Nigeria (Abuja Science Park Village), Morocco (Techno Park), Tanzania, Namibia, Mo their fortunes. Mozambique, Spain, Switzerland, progress made. the local innovation ecosystem amongst others.

In his address to the conference, the Director General of IASP, Luiz Sanz said that through the establishment of Botswana Innovation Hub, government recognizes the economic challenges that Botswana as a nation and Batswana as a people face as a direct or indirect consequence of being part of the greater global commu4 International Association of Science videbis est poriat por alis Juha Miettinen, SAiS nce parksnity. and He areas of innovation praised the establishment of s, (all collectively referred to as STPs Botswana Innovation Hub& as a game changer that forges the way forward for the country to transform its econoation which theresource-based role STP's mydiscussed from being to that an and is addressing. The final which depends on knowledge as its conservation, waste management, main raw material.

THEME Science and Technology P CONFERENCE VENUE Gaborone Inter

conference, Botswana Innovation Director, Dr Geoffrey Seleka believes Hub CEO Alan Boshwaen said that “building on the success of the the conference was a resounding conference, we are confident that with success, “From our point of view, the commencement of construction of the conference achieved the primary the parks Icon Building; the increasobjective of deepening stakeholder ing strategic partnerships that offer awareness about the role of science professional innovation support; the Duncan Pie and CEO technology ongoing and expanding programmes Dimension Dataparks and areas of innovation and strengthening inter that cultivate a vibrant innovation ecoSADC, Africa and global networks system; and the growing membership that can coalesce further and catalyze numbers, we will soon qualify for full action around the conference IASP membership.” He thank sponthemes.” He said the conference sors and participants for a successful allowed Botswana Innovation Hub to conference that builds a solid foun The conference delegates cultivate and leverage a community dation for the country’s knowledgePonatshego H. Kedikilwe, the Vice President of the Site Visit Botswana Neville Comins Hon Odirile Motlhale of experts well as buildHon. a Dr deeper based economy. videbis est as poriat por alis videbis est por Juha Miettinen, SAiS port, helping to achieve local and came from across the world Republic of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana,Opening the under construction Independent Consultant, Chairman of ICT with Parliamentary res eressin totatem Conference. consensus about its role in the or General of IASP, Luiz Sanz, the Pretoria, Republic of South Africa Committee presentations from places such as All conference papers are zambique, Spain and key players in Nigeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana innovation system and the available at www.bih.co.bw. I

Delegates came from across the world with presentations from places such as Nigeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Spain, Switzerland and South Africa Mabua Mabua CEO (BOFINET)

Boikanyo Kgosidintsi Director of Ceremony

Charles Siwawa CEO Botswana Chamber of Mines

Mark Gordon CEO VSAD

Budzanani Tacheba UN Resident Coordinator Mr Andrers Peterson McLean Sibanda

Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Innovation Hub, Gaborone, Botswana

Coference Delegat

Luis Sanz Dire of Science Park Mr Andrers Pet

Neville Comins Hon Odirile Mo Independent Consultant, Chairman of IC Pretoria, Republic of South Africa Committee

Sheela Raja Ram

Chancellor, Botho University, www.bih.co.bw 10Vice Gaborone, Botswana

McLean Sibanda Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Dr Kedikilwe IASP President African Division, Hon. J.Swarts ,Minister(MIST) Luis Sanz DG IASP CEO Of Innovation Hub SouthAfrica

Dikagiso Mokotedi Oneh Golding Botho College Exh Permanent secretaty Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology

May 2014 | Innogram

n Division Conference

e Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) programme, Dimension Data, BoFinet, BOCRA, Botho University and Orang Division Conference from the 9th to the 11th April, 2014 at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). IASP is the ference brought together leaders, experts, and professionals from Science and Technology Parks, areas of innovation, te

and Technology Parks (STP's) expanding economic frontiers in Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;; with three sub-themes, the first being Science Par mic challenges. The second sub-theme, Africa and Innovation, discussed the challenges in the continent that science, te e Development; discussed the role of STPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and AI's in sustainable development, with particular emphasis on sustainable

scuss and debate in depth the trends in STPs and AIs across Africa and the world as increasingly complex structures for p e conference was officially opened by the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Hon. Johnie K. Swartz and w Sanz (Director General, IASP) Juha Miettinen (Chief Technical Advisor. SAIS) Sibanda, with delegates from Nigeria (Abuja Science ParkLuis th Africa Innovation Hub McLean Village), Morocco (Techno Pa

Parks - Expanding Economic Frontiers in Africa rnational Convention Centre (G.I.C.C)

riat por alis

Duncan Pie CEO Dimension Data

ector General of the International Association ks exchanging contacts with UN Resident Coordinator terson

otlhale videbis est poriat por alis CT Parliamentary res eressin totatem

Pre Conference attendees Karabo Mathuba

Tendani Wotho

Presenter at the pre conference

videbis est poriat por alis

Pre conference at

Delegates at the G

Botswana Innovation hub

Hon. Dr Ponatshego H. Kedikilwe, the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana,Opening the Conference. I

www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

BIH at 30th IASP Annual Conference B

otswana Innovation Hub CEO, Alan Boshwaen led a delegation including select members of the Works, Transport and ICT Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to the 30th annual conference of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) which was held in Recife, Brazil on the 14th through 17th October 2013. The parliamentary committee was represented by Honorable Odirile Motlhale and Honorable Tawana Moremi.

It was inspiring and enriching to interact with people working in and with Science and Technology parks located in various parts of the world

Other members of the entourage included Dr Geoffrey Seleka (Director - Marketing, Registration and ICT), Stephen Modimakwane (Strategy and Business Analyst) and Kago Kgosietsile (Client Relations and Registration Officer). In Recife, the delegation was met by Her Excellency Bernadette Rathedi, Botswana Ambassador to Brazil, who joined the delegation and attended the conference workshops where Boshwaen gave a presentation under the theme ‘Science and Technology Parks, Cities and People’, during one of the conference workshops and participated in the panel discussion following the presentations.

The mission to Brazil was sponsored in part by the

By Tigele Mokobi

Southern African Innovation Support (SAIS) programme through the Mobility Fund. The SAIS programme supports the national system of innovation through its four support structures: (1) Networking, (2) Capacity Building, (3) Learning from Best Practices and (4) Institutional Development. Botswana Innovation Hub’s participation in the conference included operating a booth within the conference exhibition. Commenting on the exciting experience, Kago, who managed the booth with Stephen said, “operating the booth was a productive and rewarding experience as it created ample opportunity to market not only Botswana Innovation Hub but also Botswana and the 2014 IASP Africa Division Conference, to attendees.” She said, “It was inspiring and enriching to interact with people working in and with Science and Technology parks located in various parts of the world, giving us an opportunity to learn about their programs, challenges and experiences; all proving to be valuable lessons for possible benchmarking initiatives.” IASP is a worldwide network of science and technology parks meant to drive growth, internationalization and effectiveness of its members. Membership benefits include full IASP accreditation, international visibility, global networking and access to a broad knowledge base with a formidable multiplier of resources and opportunities for members. Botswana Innovation Hub is a member of IASP and host of the 2014 Africa Division Conference. I

Honourable MP Tawana Moremi, Honourable MP Odirile Motlhale, CEO Alan Boshwaen, Outlwule Rapuleng and Dr Geoffrey Seleka

www.bih.co.bw

May 2014 | Innogram

FSVC Energises Innovators By Kabelo Kenneth Tlhomelang

n the 9th of April 2014, in a prelude to the IASP Africa Conference, FSVC hosted local innovators in a one-day PreConference at the Gaborone International Conference Centre. Participants were treated to a generous ensemble of informative presentations, empowering testimonials and to top it off, a hot-fire interactive “Lion’s Den” pitch session. On opening the occasion, Dr Budzanani Tacheba PhD (Director, Cluster Development) motivated the participants to making the most of the country’s efforts to shift to becoming a knowledge economy. In line with the theme of the convening, ‘Expanding African Economic Frontiers through Emerging Technology Entrepreneurs and Innovators’, the programme explored issues of intellectual property, start-up valuation, business modelling and financing options. Presenters included Dr Alpheons Neba (University of Botswana) and Tshepo Tsheko (FSVC Program Manager). Further inspiration was provided by active entrepreneurs from Ngwana Enterprises, Ditec Mobile and Spachee. The enterprises offer electronic academic development,

Right: Victor Setlhare, Adams Database Below: Danny Wilson, GaboroneCity.com Bottom Right: Participants at pre-conference Bottom Left: Audrey Masizana and Kenneth Molosi

mobile manufacturing and e-wallet solutions respectively. The latter two are inductees of FSVC. In the fashion of popular television programme “Dragon’s Den”, a fourperson panel of “Lions” critiqued a selection of budding entrepreneurs’ elevator pitches. The expert panel comprised of Kenneth Molosi, Neo Nwako, Audrey Masizana and Itumeleng Garebatshabe. The winning pitch was awarded to Power To The People, a cross-platform social enterprise application that geolocates unaddressed social service issues and raises awareness through community collaboration. Also punted were such business concepts as aquaponic farming, autonomous automated printing machines, wastefuelled power production and durable electronic goods asset tracking. The Lions expressed their liking to a majority of the participants, imploring the enthusiastic entrepreneurs to thoroughly research their businesses and put their best foot forward.

Ambrose Makgonatsotlhe, in his dual role as Master of Ceremony on the occasion and SAIS Country Coordinator on occupation, promised future Lion’s Den events to occur. I

Attendants expressed their appreciation of the opportunity to network with like-minded entrepreneurs and learn of and from the Botswana Innovation Hub.

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Innogram | May 2014

We Have A Good Story To Tell

he story of Botswana’s transition from a poor, feudal, agrarian society in pre-independence 1966 to a democratic, diamond endowed country with prudent fiscal and monetary policies that earned it the distinguished position of being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with a high gross national income is the stuff of legends. The story has been well documented and told many times around evening fires in the remote recesses of the country, at kgotla meetings, around dinner tables, in classrooms and lecture halls, and at workshops and conferences around the world. However, fifty years later, the outlook of the evolving global economy reflects that the sparkle of diamonds and frugal economic policies are no longer sufficient to provide the country with a competitive economic advantage. Structural and strategic shifts in the global economy following the 2008 economic meltdown demand the expansion of the country’s economic frontiers with alternative sources of sustainable economic development. This places Botswana in the cusp of a new economic transition and rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the 2008 economic recession, Botswana Innovation Hub was borne out of the Botswana Excellence Strategy which proposed a three pronged National Strategic Goal being the diversification of the country’s economy, job creation and driving the country towards a knowledge-based economy. Botswana Innovation Hub is entrusted with the nation’s vision 14

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By Tigele Mokobi

for global innovation with the intent to help transform Botswana into a technology-driven and knowledgebased economy, by promoting a culture of innovation and competitiveness among its associated companies and knowledge-based institutes. The company is mandated to set up the country’s first science and technology park and to support new ventures and existing companies as well as attract companies, universities, research institutions and advanced training institutes to establish in the park. It is envisaged that in supporting these entities Botswana Innovation Hub will contribute to the country’s economic development and competitiveness by creating new scientific, technological, and indigenous knowledge-based business opportunities. In the few years since its inception, Botswana Innovation Hub has a good story to tell and Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boshwaen concurs that while there is still a lot more work to be done, the company, “has reached a sufficient levels of physical, institutional, and human capital operations that meet our stakeholders’ expectations.” Boshwaen has every reason to be optimistic, Botswana Innovation Hub has a full complement of Board of Directors with a Board Charter in place and developed effective governance framework, processes and policies to deliver on the company’s offering. The company continues to strengthen human capital relevant to support and enhance innovation capacity and continues to recruit an eclectic mix of vibrant, creative and energetic youth and experienced hands to deliver the

company’s strategic objective. Development on the Park is ongoing with construction of the major central buildings, the Icon Building scheduled to start in April 2014. However, even before construction of the buildings has begun, we believe we have a good story to tell. With the conviction that, “the best ideas are not created in a vacuum, but instead a product of conversation, interaction and connection,” the company continues to promote networking and collaboration between academia, public and private sector in order to enhance innovation capacity. Earlier this month, the company hosted the 2014 International Association of Science and Technology Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) Africa Division Conference at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). The conference brought together leaders, experts and professional from science and technology parks, areas of innovation, technology-based incubators, academia, the private sector and business to forge the way forward for Africa in its transformation of its economy from being resource to knowledge based. Botswana Innovation Hub is a member of the IASP which is a worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. It connects the professionals managing science, technology and research parks and other areas of innovation and provides services that drive growth and effectiveness for its members. The association provides professional innovation support. I

Cultivating an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

May 2014 | Innogram

By Tigele Mokobi

otswana currently enjoys low technological entry barriers and fixed cost, the mobile industry can therefore offer vast revenue and growth potential for entrepreneurs and jobs creation. In turn, a favorable ecosystem that integrates policy-makers, mobile network operators, investors, donors, and other stakeholders, must exist in order for mobile applications (apps) entrepreneurs to thrive. In its endeavor to stimulate the development of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for mobile apps enterprises in the country, the Botswana Innovation Hub hosted a weeklong Mobile Innovation Stakeholder Roadshow in the last quarter of 2013. The event was held within the framework of the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) Programme and infoDev, (the global partnership program in the World Bank Group) and jointly ran by Botswana Innovation Hub and Orange Botswana. The Roadshow which comprised of a Stakeholder Workshop, infoDev Global Business Innovation Management Training, Mobile Innovation Boot Camp, and Hackathon delivered five full days of cutting-edge content, networking, dynamic presentations and interactive discussions to address the latest developments and opportunities within the mobile innovation sector. Officially opening the Mobile Innovation Stakeholder Workshop, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) Dikagiso Mokotedi said the Mobile Innovation Roadshow initiative is one among many national efforts by which government and its associated partners are trying to inject passion for innovation among the youth while at the same time facilitating for the creation of a conducive environment through partnerships to nurture skills and entrepreneurship necessary for economic diversification. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa and indeed Botswana has a high mobile penetration, and is quickly adapting the new technologies. Numerous products borne out of African innovations are now being seen on the global market place. Hence

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Innogram | May 2014 MIST Permanent Secretary Dikagiso Mokotedi flanked by Juha Meittine, SAIS Chief Technical Advisor (L) and Lepata Mafa, Orange Botswana Head of Legal Corporate Services (R)

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May 2014 | Innogram there is a lot of potential to grow more solutions going forward,” he said. The workshop which convened key players for innovation ecosystem building and mobile industry promotion in the country discussed benefits and opportunities of the knowledgebased entrepreneurship and innovation promotion (such as mobile innovation) for Botswana and outlined key challenges and issues. Speaking at the same occasion, Business Incubation and Mobile Innovation Specialist, at the World Bank, Sophia Muradyan, said with 75% of the world’s population having access to mobile phones, innovators need to come up with ideas that can strengthen agribusiness and tourism sectors through mobile gadgets. “As World Bank we support and recognise the liberal mobile market and its development through innovation of new ideas that match our environments and can help our communities to develop and move forward,” said Muradyan. For his part, SAIS Chief Technical Officer, Juha Miettinen said in order to unlock individual ingenuity, it is important to establish and sustain a holistic and interconnected environment, which has a foundation built on both knowledge and practice. “Innovation is about mind-set, thinking differently in new ways,” he said, adding that the SAIS programme promotes collaboration between the innovation systems of African countries in order to provide greater impact on economic and social development. Miettinen said that the key components when guiding innovation include learning from the best, capacity building by strengthening and enhancing human resources, networking for innovation support partnerships and fostering institutional capability by building elements of the systems of innovations on a national and regional level. He said the SAIS programme is currently being piloted in four countries namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia with the aim of addressing the challenges found within the innovation systems of each country, by enacting their innovation capacity both individually and collectively. He said the programme runs from 2011 to 2015 and declared that the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged 6.2 million Euros to Botswana towards innovation development and ICT. I www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

Park development T

he Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park is strategically located on a 57 hectare site, near the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and adjacent to the Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana. The Park is an ideal location for technology-driven and knowledgeintensive businesses to establish themselves, develop, and compete in regional and global markets. The focal point of the Hub is to provide state-of-the art buildings and facilities to attract domestic, regional and global companies to locate business as well as research and development activities within the Park, and promote technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship. The Park features high quality road infrastructure, street lighting as well as power and ICT connectivity. The Parks central Icon Building is regarded as one of Africa’s pioneering ‘green’ structures. According to the World Green Building Council, green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refer to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources as well as protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity and reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. The green aspect of the Icon Building is an accreditation by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) which is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods. LEED is a tool used to help building owners and operators become environmentally responsible and efficient in the use of resources. Under the LEED accreditation, there are 18

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By Tigele Mokobi

May 2014 | Innogram 100 possible base points distributed across six credit categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification: • Certified: 40–49 points • Silver: 50–59 points • Gold: 60–79 points • Platinum: 80 points and above The goal of the LEED performance credit system is to allocate points based on the potential environmental impacts and human benefits of each credit. To participate in LEED, a building must comply with environmental laws and regulations, occupancy scenarios, building permanence and pre-rating completion, site boundaries and area-to-site ratios. Its owner must share data on the building’s energy and water use for five years after occupancy (for new construction) or date of certification

(for existing buildings). The green aspect of the Icon Building is qualified by how the buildings energy model is adapted to the environment for maximum energy efficiency and saving. In a May 2011 assessment of the Icon Building design, the building was ranked a little below 70 points placing it in the Gold category of LEED certification which is highly commendable by African standards. The sustainability and environmental features of the Icon Building are not add-ons to the building, but instead embedded in the infrastructure. The building has an open roof structure which allows it to be illuminated by natural light from the sun, saving possible electricity lighting energy coupled with natural ventilation of fresh air. In addition the façade system, adopted by the building contributes to maximum green building, mitigating harsh exterior light and glare and reduced overall energy use. A lot of trees, mostly indigenous, will be nutured to purify the air.

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By Tigele Mokobi otswana is a water stressed country and with no perennial rivers under its full control (save for the tail-end of the Okavango Delta), a drought prone environment, dam evaporation rates accelerating with global warming, the country has perilously few water resources to meet ordinary demand and support economic growth. Gaborone Dam, the only oasis for most people in the southern part of the country has until recently provided the nation’s capital with reliable water supply. However, due to increased demand, poor rains and rising evaporation rates, the dam is slowly drying up and Water Utilities Corporation whose mandate is to supply portable water to all urban centres and villages in the country has imposed water restrictions to manage the use of the resource during the current dry period. Under the new restriction, use of potable water for gardens, parks, agricultural purposes, watering of sports fields and grounds is prohibited. Use of potable water for construction purposes, except with written permission from the corporation, is also prohibited. Permission is to be granted only in situations where non-potable water has been proven to be detrimental to quality of work. Also prohibited is washing cars using hosepipes and pressure cleaners as well as spraying or washing pavements, sidewalks and streets with portable water. Motor vehicles can only be washed using buckets.

Park Water

Water Utilities Corporation Communications and Public Relations Manager, Matida Mmipi says, “The Corporation will intensify water rationing as long as the current situation persists and until we receive enough rains to fill the dams.” However, despite the recent heavy rains, Gaborone dam water levels have remained critically low at 13% and in view of the prevailing situation of an imminent water crunch, Botswana Innovation Hub took a decision to drill two boreholes within the Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park located strategically on a 57 hectare site, near the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and adjacent to the Diamond Technology Park. The two boreholes have an initial yield of 4 and 2 cubic meters per hour and are intended to supply water for construction purposes and further be used for maintenance of gardens within the park. Botswana Innovation Hub’s Facilities Director, David Tsheboeng says, “The focal point of the Hub is to provide stateof-art facilities to attract domestic, regional and global companies to locate business as well as technological research and development activities within the Park, and promote technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship. The drilling of the boreholes is part of our promise to ensure the Science and Technology park delivers high quality road infrastructure, street lighting as well as uninterrupted power, water, and ICT connectivity.” I

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Innogram | May 2014

#FirstStepsVentureCentre celebrates its 1st year

he Botswana Innovation Hub flagship Technology Entrepreneurship Development programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) turns one year this month. The facility opened its doors in 2013 and was officially launched on the 8th of November, 2013. Since then, programme manager, Tshepo Tsheko and his team have hit the ground running and set up an effective governance framework, and requisite processes and policies to deliver on the programmes offering. Speaking at the launch, CEO Alan Boshwaen said Botswana Innovation Hub is mandated to help transform Botswana into a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy, by promoting a culture of innovation and competitiveness among its associated companies and knowledge-based institutions. He said, “To create an enabling innovation environment, the company has developed this unique technology entrepreneurship development programme to support technology transfer and serve as a “one-stop shop” for entrepreneurial support. F S V C

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identifies, develops and nurtures viable technology oriented start-up businesses with a potential to grow locally and into international markets.” The provision of technology entrepreneurship development support is essential as it has been proven that the average success rate of new start-ups going through business incubation is better than those that do not. Beyond promoting technology entrepreneurship and development of technology and innovation at a micro level, the FSVC programme also provides “Soft Landing” services for foreign technology companies to step locally and into the regional market. Speaking on the occasion of the programme’s first anniversary, a euphoric FSVC Program Manager, Tshepo Tsheko declares, “FSVC is blazing! The programme is the first of its kind in the country and we are the

By Tigele Mokobi imitable rainmakers, the self-driven game changers and the success factor for local technology entrepreneur start-ups.” He said FSVC took off to a great start and praised, “The unprecedented entrepreneurial zeal, and never-saydie, creative and energetic commitment that pervades the technology entrepreneurship development center.” He said enthusiasm and determination finds expression in unflinching courage, pioneering ingenuity and hunger for success displayed by the Centre’s clients and mentors. FSVC currently boasts 10 incubatees, 3 mentors and a number of collaborations and networks that drive the technology and innovation development programme. FSVC offers an attractive suite of services and amenities to eligible individuals and companies including, ready to use offices (plug and play) with readily available internet and telephone services; subsidized rental ( low costs due to shared services), intellectual property and legal support; media and brand support; access to local and international industry networks; dedicated technology advisory services; dedicated business advisory (helping combine business plan and strategy); entrepreneurship development training; access to international markets; and lastly access to Innovation Fund subject to meeting qualification criteria. The programme looks for potential incubatees from startups and spin-offs from public and private learning institutions

May 2014 | Innogram including universities. It also recruits existing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through other incubation programmes and from local and international companies. FSVC considers ventures with proven viable businesses and traceable financial references for the purpose of establishing ability to pay subsidized rent and services. Selection into the programme is based on submission of a project proposal that is aligned to the Botswana Innovation Hub focus areas of ICT, Biotechnology, Mining Technologies and Clean Technologies. Tshepo Tsheko said of the project, since they opened their doors to applicants, they have discovered the appetite held by the market for such an intervention. To date, they have accepted 10 clients which are comprised of resi-

Park developments (continued)

from page 19

In developed countries such as the United States, many federal, state and local government and school districts have adopted various types of LEED initiatives and incentives. A full listing of government and school LEED initiatives is updated regularly and published. Some areas have also implemented incentives such as automatic 100% real property tax exemption of the assessed property value for newly constructed or rehabilitated commercial or residential properties that earn a minimum of LEED Certified.

dent and virtual clients. “Our work with idea-owners is helping entrepreneurs help themselves, by refining their ideas and questioning their assumptions. This process sometimes leads to local ideas being reworked into globally-geared value propositions.” Tsheko added, “It is said it takes a village to raise a child, and similarly successful businesses are not built solely on the plans and execution strategies of their owners, but also with sound advice from experts and professionals who support the business. Ours is to ensure that the technology-orientated enterprise continues moving forward and the support they need is never out of reach.” I

The Park offers land for longterm lease or co-development on 57 hectares of fully serviced land an additional 36 hectares for light industrial purposes. Co-development of specialised real estate in the Park with strategic partners such as real estate developers and financial investors can be arranged on 40 plots of varying sizes available for lease. Plot sizes ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 square metres can be consolidated or subdivided. Plot development guidelines are available and utilities such as water, sewerage, electricity and fibre reticulation are ready to use. Construction of the Icon Building has commenced and when the facilities on the park are fully developed, the Hub will comprise of 24,000 square metres of lettable space offering flexible office and laboratory spaces ranging from 50 to 1,000 square metres. The offer includes unfurnished standard office space with electricity and data

connections and services such as common area cleaning, maintenance, security, and administration within a secure business and networking environment. The Icon Building will further have shared facilities including meeting, board and training rooms, restaurants. Once complete, the Park Icon Building will consist of world class facilities that offer a wide range of business and technology support services that include access to conference rooms, auditoriums, video conference and teleconferencing facilities, restaurants, superior ICT services, high bandwidth and WiFi. The state-of-the-art facility will also house professional business services and business development services; entrepreneurship development including value adding business coaching platforms, support and mentoring; networking and access to strategic partners and partner programmes, as well as technology transfer services. I www.bih.co.bw 21

Innogram | May 2014

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May 2014 | Innogram

The Evolution of The Business Incubation Concept

By Tigele Mokobi he global economic meltdown was felt hardest by business start-ups. It exacerbated the economic recession inherent in the business cycles of the free market enterprise. These recurring and fluctuating levels of economic activity that an economy experiences often last three to five years from peak to peak. The Journal of Political Economy lists the five stages of the business cycle as growth (expansion), peak, recession (contraction), trough and recovery. At one time, business cycles were thought to be extremely regular, with predictable durations, but today they are widely believed to be irregular, varying in frequency, magnitude and duration. According to statistics published by the Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, seven out of ten new employer establishments survive at least two years and 51 percent survive at least five years. While this is a far cry from the previous long-held belief that 50 percent of businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within five years, it is worth noting that these statistics are derived from the developed world and it is safe to conclude that the scenario in Africa is much worse.

In the current context of considerable uncertainty in the world economy and invariably in the local economy, Government has responded to the urgent need to create a conducive policy environment for an improved business climate that sets the pace for future competitiveness and economic growth. The establishment of agencies such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) are testimony to government’s intervention. The reality on the ground however is that the success rate of business start-ups in Botswana is very low and many entrepreneurs don’t have the space or desire to start a business out of their home, yet find that renting space and setting up essential support functions is financially overwhelming and energy draining just at a time when their financial resources and energy are most needed for development of the business itself.

The concept of business incubation was formally introduced in the United States of America in 1959 to support the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts. Successful completion of a business incubation programme increases the likelihood that a start-up company will stay in business for the long term: older studies found 87% of incubator graduates stayed in business, in contrast to 44% of all firms. In addressing the country’s socioeconomic challenges, Botswana Innovation Hub was established to create a conducive national innovation ecosystem that contributes to national competitiveness, economic growth and job creation. The company serves as a unique platform and catalyser for technology-driven and knowledge intensive businesses to develop and to compete in the global market. To create such an environment, Botswana Innovation Hub has developed a technology entrepreneurship development programme, First Step Venture Centre (FSVC) to support an entrepreneurial and innovation culture and practice through technology transfer, and to serve as a “one-stop shop” for entrepreneurial support. FSVC, which was launched in November, identifies, develops viable technology oriented start-up businesses with a potential to grow into international markets. The services offered by FSVC are targeted to individuals or start-up companies with workable business ideas that have the potential to create jobs, revitalize their communities, commercialize new technologies, and diversify the economy. FSVC will help incubatees successfully navigate the common challenges that every entrepreneur must face: scarce capital, elusive markets, intense competition and limited resources. Provision of such support is essential as it has been proven that the average success rate of new start-ups going through business incubation is better than those that are not. The programme will also provide “Soft Landing” - services for foreign companies to step into the regional market. I www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

Ccleantech centre

Botswana Innovation Hub launches CleanTech Centre

By Thamani Shabani (BOPA)

and indigenous knowledge based innovations. He said Botswana Innovation Hub was mandated to contribute to the development of new sectors of the economy, especially those with a science and technology inclination. “These are mining, biotechnology, ICT and clean tech,” he said. Mmolawa said there was need for concerted efforts to develop long lasting and sustainable solutions that would ensure that Botswana could create sustainability into the future.

Dr Geoffrey Seleka delivering a speech at the launch

otswana Innovation Hub launched the CleanTech Centre on November 28th 2013 at the University of Botswana (UB). The centre was hailed as a positive development that will help Botswana deal with problems like water shortages, increased aridity, extreme temperature regimes and cumulative waste materials. Clean Technology is a generic term used to describe numerous ways of utilizing technologies, methodologies and services to address environmental concerns and challenges by providing solutions for sustainable development. CleanTech include a wide variety of environmental, social and economic activities in the fields of recycling, renewable energy and information technology. When launching the centre, deputy permanent secretary, Nchidzi Mmolawa, standing in for Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, said Botswana Innovation Hub existed to enable scientific, technological 24 www.bih.co.bw

He added that Botswana Innovation Hub had identified the most pressing problems and challenges that required Clean tech solutions in Botswana. He said that new technologies were needed in water saving and efficiency, energy efficiency and renewable energy, bioenergy, cleaner-coal as well as waste management and recovery. Mmolawa said the ever increasing demand for water requires new technological and innovative solutions to conserve water. He added that energy efficiency in buildings and their design is becoming an essential requirement in all buildings globally. “Skills development remains a critical element in the enhancement of a CleanTech sector capable of rolling out sustainable projects with a significant impact on the economy. Global figures show that the CleanTech industry grew by 18 per cent between 2012 and 2013 and is currently worth US$170 billion. Such growth also indicates job creation in the different sectors,” he said. Mmolawa added that the private sector remains relevant to public policy development to ensure sustainable CleanTech sector growth, and as such the centre will provide a platform for dialogue on policy related issues.

In line with diversifying the economy, he said, it is very important that the centre is well placed to facilitate linkages between main economic sectors like agriculture and mining. He added that the emerging market of bio-fuels will increasingly become a more relevant energy source.

cleantech centre

“It is essential for local companies to adopt new technologies that will exploit CleanTech in bio-fuels production both from plant and animal material,” said Mmolawa. The CleanTech programme blueprint document and five year implementation plan were produced in partnership with Lund University and Krinova Incubator and Science Park in Sweden. I

Why CleanTech?

By Tigele Mokobi

His Excellency the President of Botswana Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama warns that, “Scientific evidence show that our natural resource stocks are being depleted at ever increasing rates and that our natural capital has diminished both in quality and quantity.” Speaking at the 2012 Summit for Sustainability in Africa, the President said we are running down our natural capital stock without understanding the value of what we are losing. He lamented that our ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources underpin economies, societies, and individual well-being, but the value of its benefits are often overlooked. The President went on to state that climate change threatens the very sustainability of our livelihoods and poverty continues to overwhelm our

May 2014 | Innogram

Quick Facts About CleanTech Centre The CleanTech Centre is set up to advance planet-friendly technology both independent of and as a feature of products of the three other BIH focus sectors. The economic and environmental benefits of the Centre’s value proposition places it as an enhancer to developers across the four BIH priority sectors. In and of its own, the Centre builds business cases around clean tech opportunities including among others solar energy, water saving, waste management and biogas, cleaner coal and energy efficient products and services. International cooperation and collaboration by the Centre and other national entities pave way to multinational prospects across the Southern African region. The Centre acts as a corporate facilitator for foreign direct investment and local offtake at high level, as well as a development accelerant to qualifying startups. The Centre also employs substantial resources in providing platforms for dialogue, training and analysis. Investment and offtake The CleanTech Centre fast-tracks conversations and conversion considerations within the local ecosystem, thereby reducing business lag and time costs. The Centre’s work varies From ushering in investors, matchmaking for trade and partnership, hosting prototype construction and demonstration presentations, to supporting deal structures with government, parastatal and multinational entities. Where necessary, the Centre will help voice regulatory development needs to enable market opportunities. Startup support Together with the First Steps Venture Centre, the CleanTech Centre facilitates entrepreneurial development specifically to accelerate development and deployment of locally developed, adapted or enhanced cleantech functions and products. Exchange Platforms In educating marketmakers, the Centre expands opportunities for commercial offtake to reach critical mass and hastened breakeven. Through facilitation of dialogue between thought leaders and market, generators of technology can learn and magnify ideation and collaboration. Information sharing within the BIH network enables business case enabling analysis, often forerunning problem-solving innovation and the will of the market to adapt. The CleanTech Centre is formed through partnership between BIH, the Lund University and Krinova Science Park. The Centre aims to be a key driver in bringing together the players, platforms and products that will in turn bring about clean cities and nations. Be it through commercial offering or public-private partnership, the Centre is in essence the CleanTech round table of Botswana. development efforts leaving us no option but to embrace sustainable development as a way of life. He called for the incorporation of the value of natural resources in sustaining development and livelihoods as an asset for development. In fulfilment of its objective of providing innovative solutions for the energy and environment focus areas of Botswana Innovation Hub, the company established the CleanTech Centre. The CleanTech Centre accords Botswana Innovation Hub the opportunity to take the lead in facilitating sustainable business solutions to waste, water, energy and traffic problems in collaboration with academic researchers, leading private companies and government policy makers. The Centre’s focus is to catalyse options for greener, cleaner, low-carbon, resourceefficient and socially inclusive businesses through adopted innovations and technologies. I

Out of this world NASA Explores A New Moon Mining Programme

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has issued expression of interest advertisements for proposals for a new moon-mining programme to explore the lunar surface for valuable resources like helium 3 and rare earth metals. The Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown programme (CATALYST) is a “no funds exchanged” Space Agreement Act and final proposals are due by end of March 2014. One or more private companies will win a contract with NASA to build prospecting robots, the first step toward mining the moon. However, the possibility of lunar-mining has triggered debate as according to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty of the United Nations, countries are prohibited from laying claim to the moon. Ian Crawford, a planetary science professor, said: “There’s a strong case for developing international law in this area because in 1967 it was not envisaged that anyone other than nation states would be able to explore the moon. Clearly that is changing now and there is a case for developing the outer space treaty to include private organisations that may wish to exploit the moon.” www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

The Green Economy Has Arrived By Hugh Tyrrell

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May 2014 | Innogram

or decades, environmental sustainability has been seen as a risk and compliance issue. Now it is steadily moving into the mainstream as a source of business opportunity. There are several reasons for this, including continually expanding market readiness for environmentally preferable goods and services, and the realisation that the transition to a low-carbon economy is inevitable. This is driven by increasing oil price volatility and peak oil concerns as well as by climate change and its effects being seen vividly around the world. Also, COP 17 - the UN International Climate Change Conference - brought a global focus to the increasing role of greening in business. The conference challenged governments to prioritise green industries in their new growth plans with funding and incentives to support their development. “Green policies could prove a tonic for the global economy. The need to switch to green technology should be seen as an opportunity and not a burden,” said Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel economics laureate, former World Bank Chief Economist and member of South Africa’s Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel’s economic advisory council. Forward-looking companies are taking steps to position themselves in the green space by offering products and services deepened with a shared commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. By actively taking on greening themselves, businesses can be part of the solution and increase their profitability. The greatest benefits from greening will flow when it is fully embraced into company strategy and operations and innovation, becoming ‘the way we do things around here.’ Two helpful principles to remember are that it’s a journey not a destination and that it’s done from the inside outwards. This means firstly, a long-term commitment to

following the path to sustainability. Management must be behind it all along the way, with adequate budget and staff support. Secondly, before telling the outside world that it is going green, a company should have a plan to get its own house in order. A declaration of intent, policy or pledge, followed by a roadmap of action, enables you to raise your green flag credibly. Greening is an integrated change process made up of three parts - operational, organisational and communications. The operational side starts with an assessment of how much energy, water and raw materials are presently being used. This sets a benchmark against which progress can be measured and enables a focus on finding ecoefficiencies. The organisational process involves identifying and empowering green champions within the company, facilitating the formation of a team or formal committee to drive the process, as well as awareness and training staff at all levels. Communications are used internally to spread awareness and provide updates on greening achievements to inform and motivate staff - and externally to customers and suppliers. The content may be partly about milestones achieved along your sustainability journey and also about new product innovations that are environmentally preferable and have green ‘added value’. The business benefits to greening are many. These include cost saving from energy, water, materials and waste reductions. Market share and new customers are gained, existing customer loyalty is entrenched, as is staff motivation. Product innovations and new business opportunities are opened too. The green wave is undoubtedly here. Those companies who will benefit most are those ‘first movers’ who can, with credibility and integrity, get their green flag and action plans up and running. I www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

EO Alan Boshwaen says Botswana Innovation Hub carefully studied the areas of science and technology that could have significant impact in economic diversification. To this end the company has identified ICT as one of its innovation focus areas. He says, “Botswana Innovation Hub acts as a catalyst in the development of the ICT industry and creation of an innovation supporting ecosystem in Botswana. The company supports the development of innovative local content, skills and job creation as part of the ICT development strategy and e-Government.” Boshwaen points to the special challenge to make ICT skills and education received by many young people in Botswana particularly relevant to the market place and changing global trends. To address this, Botswana Innovation Hub has forged a partnership with Microsoft Corporation to establish the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) to drive innovation in the ICT sector and develop local software economy. MIC was officially opened by the then Vice President Lt. Gen. Mompati Morafhe in 2011. The Centre offers programmes designed to accelerate technology advances and stimulate local software economy through skills and professional training, industry partnerships and innovation. “The establishment of the MIC within the Botswana Innovation Hub plays a pivotal role in the development of the national software systems by enabling collaboration with the Microsoft Corporation and creating benefits through various technology transfer initiatives,” he says. Boshwaen went on to say, “The Botswana Innovation Hub-Microsoft collaboration underpins the Hub’s entrepreneurship development initiative that focuses on companies that require facilitation in technology acquisition and transfer to enhance their businesses.” For his part, MIC manager Patel Barwabatsile says, “Botswana Innovation Hub and Microsoft Corporation work together to operate the MIC which offers state-of-the-art technology, facilitate collaboration on innovation research, technology and software solutions. The primary focus of MIC is to support software companies through partnerships with government, academia and industry.” Barwabatsile states that MIC supports and facilitates research and development, education and innovation activities in ICT. This he says is achieved by supporting startup ventures and assisting companies to grow. The centre is open students, professional software developers, IT professionals, entrepreneurs and academic researchers. Some of the key programmes and activities currently undertaken through the MIC are the KitsoNet and KitsoWorks initiatives. The KitsoNet project delivers affordable ICT devices and internet to civil/public service employees while the KitsoWorks employability portal is a platform with a job search function, youth mentoring and social and professional networking. 28 www.bih.co.bw

Net

The main aim of the KitsoNet scheme is to encourage innovation, increase internet penetration and use of e-commerce which is key to increasing the country’s technological readiness and competitiveness. The scheme assists with the purchase of ICT devices, services and training, and supports the development of locally relevant ICT products and services. The products on offer include, but are not limited to, devices such as PC’s, laptops, netbooks, tablets, slates, computer peripheral devices and related devices with the required authentic and licensed software and where required, anti-virus software, support, training and manufacture warranties. The services that the scheme covers include internet connectivity services, training on its usage and services for effective and productive use of the internet service while the training aspect will require vendors to deliver short training to end users to ensure that the user is able to do basic computing and internet services like using email, word processor and browse or search internet by the close of each sale. The KitsoNet scheme is delivered via an innovative online e-commerce platform with three components to it, the first is an online store, second comprises approved partners and service providers with the final component consisting of a marketplace for distribution of local digital content and services to support internet usage. The online store is to be used by government employees and government sponsored students to select devices and services from the catalogue and apply for an advance scheme towards purchase of the preferred devices and services. A selection criteria has been put in place for local device retailers, telcos and ISP who wish to participate in this scheme. Device retailors are invited to submit their service offering and catalogues for this service to Botswana Innovation Hub for selection into the scheme. Finally, software and application developers and ICT service providers are encouraged to partner with Botswana Innovation Hub to deliver and market their products and services through this portal.

“With this portal we aim to aggregate all empowerment or employability initiatives or opportunities that are available for the youth and recent graduates, and provide them a one stop shop where they can access and explore opportunities that exist in the country,” CEO Alan Boshwaen

Expression of interest for the provision of Products and Services to the ICT salary advance scheme ecommerce Portal –“Kitsonet” Background Botswana Innovation Hub has partnered with the Ministry of Transport and Communications to launch a scheme to assist public servants and potentially the government sponsored students earning allowances to purchase ICT devices, services and training through a salary or allowance advance respectively. This new scheme “KitsoNet – Advancing ecommerce” assists with purchase of ICT devices, services and training, and supports the development of locally relevant ICT products and services. The main aim of this scheme is to encourage innovation, increase internet penetration and use of e-commerce which is key to increasing the country’s technological readiness and competitiveness. Invitation In line with this Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) hereby invites eligible and capable vendors of ICT devices (PCs, laptops, tablets and accessories) and internet service providers to respond to the expression of interest to supply their services through this scheme to the qualifying government employees. Successful companies will be added to the KitsoNet one-stop e-commerce portal, www.kitsonet.co.bw,as service providers. Scope of Work The submissions, should demonstrate current capabilities of the vendor to deliver the required products and services in the territory of the Republic of Botswana. The products and services include but not limited to the below • Devices: PCs, Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets, Slates, Computer peripheral devices and related devices, with the required authentic and licensed software (including anti-virus where required), support, training and manufacture warranties. • Services: Internet connectivity services, training on its usage and services for effective and productive use of the internet service.

• Training: Vendors will be required to deliver short training to end user to ensure by the close of each sale the user is able to do basic computing and internet services like using email, word processor and browse or search internet. The successful vendors will be required to sign up to the e-Commerce portal, submit their product catalogue to be approved into the portal as per the terms and conditions set for use of the portal and the agreement entered into with BIH. The vendor will also be required to process each transaction as per the set procedure for the scheme and the portal. The portal is an innovative online store to be used for: • Vendors to display their products and services for sale. • Public servants and potentially government sponsored students all over the country to select and apply for the government scheme under its set conditions. • Purchaser to be notified to receive goods and services. Submission of Expression of Interest Vendors’ expression of interest can be submitted to BIH via email to mic@bih.co.bw or be in person or via postal mail to below address (for submission of hard copies ensure to submit one original and two (2) copies of the Expression of Interest in a sealed envelope) clearly marked “Proposal for the provision of products and services for the KitsoNet Service”:

to invite to participate in the subsequent process any particular companies that expressed an interest in this project. Any enquiry communication should be send to BIH with attention to Mr Patel Barwabatsile or e-mail to patel.barwabatsile@bih.co.bw. Selection Criteria Consideration of vendor companies for participation in the program would be influenced by these criteria. If services are delivered through joint ventures, information of both parties should be provided. 1. Company capabilities, skills, and competencies (Company Profile and References) 2. Copy of Trade License and Tax Clearance certificate 3. Shareholding Information 4. Evidence of the vendor having experience and capacity in delivering the required services. 5. Approach, Solution and methodologies to be applied in delivering the products and services. 6. Citizen owned or partially citizen owned companies will be given preference in line with the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy of 2012.

Physical address: Maranyane House (BOTEC) Plot 50654, Machel Drive Gaborone Postal Address: Private Bag 00265 Gaborone Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, the BIH is not bound to incur expenses in preparation thereof. It should also be noted that the BIH is not obliged

Maranyane House Plot 50654, Machel Drive Private Bag 00265 Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 391 3328 Fax: +267 391 3289 Email: info@bih.co.bw www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

KitsoWorks on the other hand is a platform with a job search function, youth mentoring and social and professional networking. The initiative provides youth with exclusive access, via internet and mobile phone, to courses to develop their professional skill and boost employment. This catalyst for employability skills provides a full ecosystem that supports workforce development across the country for job research and professional skill enhancement - online, on the ground and via a mobile function. The scheme provides a fully inclusive experience which provides career planning resources for visitors to identify their career path and the

In other news Botswana Innovation Hub Delegation Visits The Research Triangle region of North Carolina in the US.

training gap compared to the requirements. It offers extensive training options for different skills customized to specific target groups and jobs, directing visitors to online and physical locations where they can identify the jobs available, and helping them prepare their applications. Within the KitsoWorks portal, the entrepreneur section includes BYB, a Microsoft Citizenship programme for micro and small entrepreneurs to help them promote skills training and create new businesses through cuttingedge tools. BYB helps the micro and small entrepreneurs leverage productivity and technology tools to grow their own business/company. I

Botswana’s eminent innovation emissaries Dr Geofrey Selaka (L), Alan Boshwaen (C) and Dr Budzanani Tacheba PhD (Second from R) with hosts Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (Second from L) and Major General Gregory Lusk (R) of the North Carolina National Guard

Botswana Innovation Hub and Microsoft Corporation work together to operate the MIC which offers stateof-the-art technology facilitate for collaboration on innovation research, technology and software solutions Patel Barwabatsile 30

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Government encouraged by youthful appetite for participation

By Tigele Mokobi

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Dikagiso Mokotedi said he was pleased to notice that the majority of attendants at the Mobile Innovation Stakeholder Roadshow Workshop were young people. He said it was encouraging to see young people actively participate in initiatives that sought to improve the lives of Batswana. Inspired by the palpable spirit of youth that prevailed at the workshop, Mokotedi drew the audience attention to the analogy between the participant’s youthfulness and his Ministry’s fledgling (development) phase. He said the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) is fairly young having been established in 2009. At the time of its inception, the Ministry was besieged by a growing number of young artisans and builders who were unemployed and roamed the streets despite governments massive spend in the construction industry. “We took a deliberate decision to hand-hold these passionate but inexperienced tradesmen and give them an opportunity to get a foot in the door of the cut-throat construction industry,” he said. Today these budding entrepreneurs are the toast of the industry running thriving businesses. Mokotedi said he was immensely impressed by the youthful enthusiasm of the ICT sector and pledged to personally ensure that the same benevolent gesture that his Ministry extended to the construction industry is accorded to the ICT sector. “You are assured of government’s commitment to walk the talk and assist start-up businesses in the ICT sector. Governments commitment is demonstrated by an eight digit Innovation Fund that will be announced soon,” he said. He said the Ministry was tying the loose ends for the administration of the fund and that BIH through its subsidiary technology entrepreneurship programme, First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC), will identify, develop, and nurture viable technology oriented start-up businesses with a potential to grow into international markets. The Permanent Secretary’s announcement was received with a round of applause and assured mobile app entrepreneurs of the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I

SAIS Demand-Driven Mining Supply Chain Business Incubation Model Project

By Stephen Seporo

rom the day a mining operation starts, it is immediately in a closure phase, counting down the days until that inevitable day when the doors of the mine will close due to the mineral resource base having been fully exploited. Once mines close, the social impact on employee households, communities and regions are mostly severe and long term, leaving thousands of people without jobs. Ghost towns develop in areas that were once heavily reliant on mining for economic sustainability. The majority of these people who were dependent on the mining operation for income are usually left stranded in an area that they cannot escape from, due to a lack of resources and capacity to ensure their sustainable integration into other sectors of the economy. Procurement from local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses by the mines has the potential to contribute to growing local commerce. These local suppliers in time develop into established businesses which are sustainable beyond the life of

May 2014 | Innogram

the mine. However, there is usually a gap between the standards and skills of local SMEs and the requirements of big mining companies. Therefore, this project seeks to bridge that gap. Two large mining companies have been identified in Botswana and Zambia (BCL Limited and Barrick Gold respectively) that procure a diverse range of products and services. The companies identified have shown a desire to develop their local communities and increase their ability to procure in quantity from suitable local SMEs. These large procurers have been approached to develop a series of supply chain linkages with small enterprises. Their supply chains will be mapped and the requirements of procurement for each product and service determined. Through a local supplier development and performance management process the mines will help SMEs establish themselves. After two to three years in the supplier development programme, participant businesses are expected to grow and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;graduateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the open market, in which they will compete with established regional, national and international service providers. I

Mining, especially diamond mining has been the mainstay of Botswanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressive economic record for the past four decades. However, due to decreasing efficiancy levels and rising costs it is necessary to optimise overall mining processes using innovative technologies and more of the existing mineral endowment into commercial operations efficiently. Furthermore Botswana Innovation Hub aims to attract high value innovate activities and technology transfer that adds value to the key minerals such as diamonds and coal - Alan Boshwaen www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

2014 Youth mHealth Innovation Competition Launched By John Churu

With a mobile technology (ICT) penetration ranked second in Africa at 1.34 mobile subscriptions per capita for Botswana, stakeholders in the health sector have taken the opportunity to invite youths to take part in a nationwide mobile Health or mHealth competition. According to the organisers and sponsors who include Orange, Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH), Unicef, Botswana-UPENN Partnership, CADLINE, SAIS and the Ministry of Health, mHealth has shown tremendous promise to improve health care in the country. Currently, Botswana’s public health care system faces many challenges. In addition to being burdened by TB, HIV, and malaria, the healthcare system suffers from a shortage of healthcare workers and reliable IT infrastructure especially outside of urban areas. The competition, which is in its second year, is premised on the fact that the rapid growth of mobile technology and social media provides tools and opportunities to address healthcare challenges like never before. “This competition is an open event designed to engage and grow Batswana youths’ vision, talent and entrepreneurship and leverage the vast potential impact that mHealth can have on Botswana’s healthcare system,” said Dr. Tshiamo Motshegwa from the University of Botswana who is coordinating the competition. “The mHealth Innovation Competition is your chance to bring an idea to life that can improve public health and health care delivery in Botswana and save lives,” he added. Those intending to be part of the competition are advised to register online where they will receive official application instruction which include an application template. Applicants are also required to submit their handwritten mHealth proposal of maximum 10 pages and containing the following: identification of the problem the mHealth will solve, an outline of the idea and how it works as well as a budget and schedule for development of a prototype. The other stipulation is that photos, diagrams, screenshots, videos and or prototype are not required, but they are highly

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encouraged in order to clearly share the idea and strengthen one’s application. The intended mHealth innovation must also fit into one of the requirements which categories are; Human health, animal health and food security. The said mHealth innovation must also utilise one or more of the following mobile technology functions, organisers say: voice, sms, image/video capture, barcode or QR code scanning, GPS, internet access, computing and acess to social networks. They should contribute to improvement of Ministry of Health programs in order to be relevant and qualify for the P125,000 ($15,560) grand prize which is in the offing. The competition is open to all Batswana youth and youth living in Botswana with a valid resident permit aged between 15 to 35 years who include artists, engineers, linguists, scientists, employed and unemployed like. Teams can consist of up to 5 members and 50% of the team members must be Batswana. “The more diverse the team, the stronger the application will be, for example a team consisting of a computer science major, a nurse and a philosophy major will be stronger than a team consisting of just computer science majors, said a release from the organisers. Extra considerations will be given to teams with unemployed members. Participants have been advised that the launch date is the eighth of May 2014, while the deadline to register is June 30th. A date for panel presentation and winners announcement is set for August the 25th. Mobile health is the utilization of mobile technology in the practice of medicine and public health. It is relatively broad and young field, but has shown tremendous promise to improve healthcare in the world and Botswana. According to the World Health organisation, the seven proven applications of mHealth are, education and awareness, helpline, diagnostic and treatment support, communication and training for healthcare workers, disease and epidemic outbreak tracking, remote monitoring and remote data collection. I

May 2014 | Innogram

Stakeholder Engagement Campaign

By Tigele Mokobi, Goitsemodimo Williams

r Geoffrey Seleka, (Director - Marketing, ICT and Registration) says, “Stakeholder engagement and public awareness are critical aspects of the Botswana Innovation Hub’s integrated marketing remit.” He said to this end, the Botswana Innovation Hub has embarked on a strategic stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaign. The campaign entails workshops, seminars, fairs, exhibitions, roadshows and sector based networking sessions.

Dr Seleka says, “The campaign seeks to update the general public and stakeholders in particular, of the Botswana Innovation Hub offerings in the form of products and services. The campaigns further update on the critical milestones achieved so far, upcoming events and initiatives where opportunities to collaborate with Botswana Innovation Hub and its partners are available.” He said the stakeholder engagement campaign creates a platform for participating individuals and entities to initiate dialogue with the company on a broad platform that extends beyond one-on-one interface or closed email discussions allowing an opportunity to bring others with similar issues to come on board. The campaign kicked off with the Botswana Innovation Hub Northern Blitz in August 2013 in Francistown. The Northern Blitz comprised a stakeholder engagement seminar, an exhibition and dinner. At the seminar, Chief Executive Officer Alan Boshwaen pointed out that while economically advanced countries naturally work at the cutting edge of the technology frontier, developing countries have considerable opportunities for tapping into global knowledge and technology for dissemination in their local context. “As a country, we must focus on pragmatic innovation, which will bring out relevant and innovative solutions to the real life challenges facing us,” he said. As result, Botswana Innovation Hub has forged partnerships with leading businesses and institutions to put in place specialised innovation support programmes meant to assist their ideas into the marketplace, he further said.

The stakeholder engagement campaign creates a platform for participating individuals and entities to initiate dialogue with the company on a broad platform In addition to providing support to innovators, he mentioned that they realised it was crucial to have a supporting regulatory framework. This is because in that way, they will help grow national talent base to drive innovation forward while at the same time creating a friendly environment for innovators to have access to finance in order for their projects to take off. Boshwaen highlighted that Francistown is strategically positioned as a mining cluster since it is in proximity to about ten operating mines and/or exploration concessions, and also being the second largest consumer market in Botswana after the greater Gaborone area. He said this presents an opportunity for mines, Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) startups and entrepreneurs to collaborate and add value to the mining value chain in order to realise the goals of adding value to the mining resources. The CEO said such collaboration

will result in empowering SMMEs and assist in the provision of locally based mining related products and services, hence job creation within the communities and will also strengthen the mining cluster in the Francistown region. He further noted that they have so far as BIH registered two companies in the mining exploration being Southern Mapping (a South African company specialising in geo spatial technology) and Bauer De Wet (a manufacturer of specialised drilling equipment built and designed in Botswana, fostering local expertise and innovation). He explained that the drills are specific to the Southern African open cast drilling environment. The CEO therefore urged mining companies involved in the stages of the mining value chain, such as enhanced exploration technologies and geo spatial mapping to get in touch with them to form an impactful mining technologies network founded on innovation. I

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May 2014 | Innogram

The campaign seeks to update the general public and stakeholders in particular, of the Botswana Innovation Hub offerings www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

CEO Commits to Regular Media Briefings

hief Executive Officer Alan Boshwaen says the creation of a national innovation supporting ecosystem can never be achieved in isolation, the media are a key stakeholder in the nurturing of the national systems of innovation. He said the media were witnesses at the birth of Botswana Innovation Hub and were now invited to join the company in the journey towards realising its mandate. He said the media’s account of the Botswana Innovation Hub is the ‘first rough script of history’ because journalists often record important events, producing news articles as events unfold.

Boshwaen was speaking at a media briefing that was held on the 10th December 2013. He said the media however encompasses more than just news as it plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions on a variety of important issues, both through the information that is dispersed through them, and through the interpretations they place upon this information. “Beyond playing a public service announcement and public education role, the media also plays an advocacy role that shapes public perceptions,” he said. Boshwaen said Botswana Innovation Hub recognises this role and has devised a schedule to meet and interact with editors of the local print and broadcast media on a regular basis to share with them some priority issues in the development of the country’s first science and technology park. He said the company recognises the media as partners in the park’s development and programme agenda and assured them of regular briefs. He further announced that he was exploring the establishment of an Innovation Media Award in recognition of outstanding journalists covering issues around innovation, science and technology. The award will be administered by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana chapter. On other matters, Boshwaen said Botswana Innovation Hub has made strides in the implementation of the Botswana Innovation Hub Strategy 2013-2016. He said various 36

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By Mmoniemang Motsamai (BOPA) objectives which Botswana Innovation Hub measures itself with have been achieved. “In terms of innovation development and support initiatives, Botswana Innovation Hub launched First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC), a technology incubation entrepreneurship platform,” he said. He said there are various offices partitioned at First Steps Venture Centre for entrepreneurs to use as their operational base, which he said were distinct from what anyone else was doing. He said so far, they have registered the first seven companies who are operating from First Steps Venture Centre. “We had felt that it was important to start tapping into the innovation system while still developing the Science and Technology Park,” he said. He said BIH was also active in the promotion of advancement of science and technology and that other major projects that were underway include TV White Space trials for delivery of broadband. “There has been a huge outcry from the public that there is shortage, expensive and inaccessibility of this service to the communities,” he said. This service, he said will assist in the provision of telemedicine services around the country, which he said will enable the doctors through the University of Pennsylvania to make investigations of certain diseases. He further noted that the construction of Botswana’s first Science and Technology Park was underway. He said the main contractor will be on site by April 2014 and that the project was scheduled to be built in two years. He said one of the key elements about Botswana Innovation Hub was that unlike other hubs, it has been constituted as a company as opposed to being part of the government administrative system. He said part of the mandate of Botswana Innovation Hub was to contribute to the economic development of the country and its competitiveness by creating some

May 2014 | Innogram technological and indigenous knowledge based business opportunities to Batswana. Boshwaen said they were currently adding value to existing companies and assisting them on entrepreneurship and technology transfer as well as generating knowledge-based jobs. He further said it was important to attract new innovative

companies to affiliate with the Botswana Innovation Hub setup in order to carry out joint operations. The CEO said Botswana Innovation Hub has forged collaboration with companies and institutions such as Microsoft Corporation, South African Innovation Support (SAIS) programme and The Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) to build a national system of innovation. I

Decrypt Knowledge Economy As a distinction from agrarian, resource-based or traditional industrial economies, a Knowledge Economy is considered to be an economy that is essentially driven by the creation, distribution and utilization of knowledge and information. In this respect, the Knowledge Economy or weightless economy reflects the latest stage of development in the evolution of modern economies, often characterized by an increased use of ICT, globalization, active networking and various forms of innovation.

Biotechnology Applied Science “Biotechnology refers to the application of life science to the improvement of the value of materials and organisms such a pharmaceuticals, crops and livestock. Biotechnology seeks to apply related technical advances to develop commercial products. Botswana’s high disease burden including HIV/AIDS and Non Communicable diseases together with the continued challenges affecting our national food security such as recurring droughts present a unique opportunity to enhance health outcomes as well as increase agricultural output through focused R&D and innovation and to commercial our existing indigenous knowledge such as medicinal herbs and edible wild fruits into new products and services,” CEO Alan Boshwaen.

Innovation Systems and Ecosystem Innovation systems are concepts for understanding the dynamics and collaborative nature of innovation in societies and economies. According to innovation system theory, innovation is seen as results of a complex set of relationships among actors in the system, which

includes enterprises, universities, research institutes as well as the government. Innovation systems are often observed at national, regional and local levels, or equally at sectorial or technological levels. This systemic nature of innovation environment is sometimes referred to as innovation ecosystems, making a distinction of its non-coordinated or autonomous character and the amorphous nature of the system development. Innovation ecosystems are defined as complex structures formed by the interaction of the participating community within an environment. A healthy ecosystem is one, which participants can thrive and grow, it self-regulates and adapts as the market needs evolve. The community consists of industry participants, startups, collaboration institutions, technical and business services. The environment is core markets where the community coexist and the adjacent markets from which know-how is shared. The structures are the linkages within communities and environments.

Blazing Blazing is a First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) devised concept to denote the unprecedented entrepreneurial zeal, and never-say-die, creative and energetic commitment that pervades the technology entrepreneurship development center. The enthusiasm and determination finds expression in the unflinching courage, pioneering ingenuity and hunger for success of the centers clients. “FSVC is blazing! We are the imitable rainmakers, the self-driven game changers and success factor for technology entrepreneur start-ups in the country,” declares /FSVC Programme Manager Tshepo Tsheko. www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

#TeamBuilding

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They Say... Innogram | May 2014

“International collaboration is a critical component for growing a country’s innovation capacity and we thank you for your efforts towards helping Botswana embrace Science, Technology and Innovation as an economic drive,” Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Hon Johnnie Swartz applauding the strategic role played by Diplomatic corps in facilitation of the global networks that support Science, Technology and

Innovation

“It should be noted that the green shoots that we are beginning to see with the FSVC concept present an important and necessary environmental element that should drive budding young entrepreneurs, web and mobile programmers, designers and educational institutions to build an ecosystem that will develop Botswana’s future technology entrepreneurs,” Kenneth Molosi, CEO - EOH Consulting and FSVC Mentor

“Our single greatest asset is the innovation, ingenuity and creativity of our people.” Barack Obama

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“Now, more than ever, science, technology and innovation matters as a tool to saving lives, feeding the hungry, creating jobs and improving living standards sustainably. Science, Technology and Innovation interventions must be brought into the main stream economic planning and policy landscape. It is important to adopt science, technology and innovation as interventions to enhance productivity, create competitiveness, wealth creation and spur the knowledge-based economy.” Alan Boshwaen, Botswana Innovation Hub CEO

May 2014 | Innogram

“As World Bank we support and recognise the liberal mobile market and its development through innovation of new ideas that match our environments and can help our communities to develop and move forward,” Sophia Muradyan, Business Incubation and Mobile Innovation Specialist, World Bank

“It should be borne in mind that for innovation and technology to drive African economies as envisaged, a lot of concerted efforts, focus and investment needs to take place as a precursor to the accrual of actual benefits.” Neo Moroka, Botswana Innovation Hub Chairman Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently - they’re not fond of rule... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs, Apple founder

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Innogram | May 2014

Incubatees

NimoTech

NimoTech leads children to interrogate, develop and design solutions using Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). We introduce STEM skills to children during the early years when they are full of natural curiosity. In collaboration with Discovery kids and other partners, we guide children through the process of problem solving that simulates thinking and learning. The result is a program that gives them complete understanding of STEM applications in a practical setting.

BioDiesel Botswana Fueling the nation with green energy is exactly what BioDiesel Botswana is about! Leading the clean-energy sector through the local production of biodiesel, Biodiesel Botswana strives for a cleaner and eco-friendly Botswana. Biodiesel Botswana produces fuel that is utilized in compression-ignition (CI) engines and boilers. Manufactured from used cooking oil and animal fats the production of biodiesel is paving the way to a cleaner and healthier environment as it energy efficient and reduces global warming gas emissions amongst many other benefits.

Spachee

Driven by pioneering ideas, Spachee aims to positively change our world with pragmatic inclusive innovation. From the city centre to the remotest of areas, Spachee is bridging the financial inclusiveness divide in Africa. By having already created 1,200 digital jobs, Spachee is on course to redefining the meaning of the socio-economic impact of inclusive innovation. Spachee is not just mobile money; Spachee is a cashless society. Based on the premise of breaking-down barriers for you as a consumer, merchant or mobile money provider to ensure that your money can seamlessly interchange between any bank and mobile money provider. Facing a more complex world, consumers desire trust, convenience and seamless-interchange. Whether its retail payments, airtime, money transfer, ATM withdrawals, microfinance, e-health, e-commerce, bill payment, salary disbursement, Spachee is there to serve in a vast range of categories. Enjoy a future of great capabilities SPACHEE is that future! 42

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May 2014 | Innogram

Modisar

Managing all things “farm” has never been this easy thanks to a breakthrough mobile product called Modisar! With Modisar, Botswana’s first and only farm management platform, one is able to manage their farm livestock, farm finances and have access to an engaging community of livestock farmers. You can’t grow what you don’t know and definitely what you can’t manage and with that; good record keeping, farming knowledge, engaging community and market access will make livestock farming very sustainable both economically and environmentally. Modisar is dedicated to creating an efficient farm management system that provides a knowledge base and market place for livestock farmers as well as related businesses. Through the Modisar platform, farmers, buyers and agribusiness are connected to benefit from each other.

MediaShack

Media Shack provides an unconventional and dynamic channel to reach your clients through digital marketing and animation production. From animated programs, animated digital television ads, digital adverts and dynamics, Media Shack provides the client with a holistic and innovative approach to digital marketing. Media Shack is a regional player accredited by South Africa’s most revered digital and social media institute (quirK). Media Shack, an advertising agency for the new digital age.

Deaftronics

Deaftronics has redefined hearing and brought an innovative hearing solution to those that are hearing impaired especially in developing countries. Realising that a significant number of lithium battery in hearing aids die within their first month, Deaftronics launched an award winning pragmatic solar powered hearing aid that was invented in Botswana, by Batswana for Africa and the world to share. Solar powered hearing aids provide children with the ability to learn to develop speech; and therefore, an opportunity to go to school. Deaftronics has managed to send more than 3,000 hearing impaired African children to school. Deaftronics highlights to society the special abilities of the hearing impaired, thereby creating employment opportunities for the deaf population in Botswana. www.bih.co.bw

Innogram | May 2014

World Queues

In a world where time is a limited commodity, people are still spending lots of time in queues at banks, hospitals and post offices. World Queues is a technology that allows customers to join queues remotely; via the Internet or text message. Tried and being tested in Kenya, World Queues, a queue management system has brought the service of “No More Blindly Waiting in Queues ”. World Queues lets your customers know their expected time of wait in a queue.

About FSVC First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC) is the flagship technology

entrepreneurship development program of the Botswana innovation Hub. Working within the four priority sectors of the Botswana Innovation Hub namely Biotechnology, Clean Technology, Mining Technology and Information Communications Technology; FSVC nurtures, grows and accelerates technology led and innovation inspired businesses in Botswana. We serve our clients by providing; • Professional business support services • Business mentoring and coaching • Business and Technology advisory support services • Physical office facilities • Network Access Opportunities Contact Us First Steps Venture Centre is located at Unit 5, Riverwalk Annex, Riverwalk Private Bag 00265, Gaborone Phone: +267 399600 Fax: +267 3996002 Web: www.bih.co.bw Facebook: BIH_FSVC Twitter: @BIH_FSVC Google+: FSVC 44

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Kaelekae

May 2014 | Innogram

Mobbo has become one of the leaders in mobile innovation within Botswana through the relevant social media marketing tool itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become. Mobbo, a leading innovation and social media marketing enhancer, has brought a greater meaning and impact to the marketing arena in Botswana; Whatever organization it may be, in public and private sectors as well as local communities, Mobbo cuts across them all. Mobbo enhanches the ability of brand owners and organisations to define, understand and most importantly reach their market. Through the Mobbo platform, organisations are equipped to better understand what type of client they are reaching through social media platforms thus better focusing channels and resources to reach and cater for clients needs and converting prospects into clients.

Ditec Mobile

Connecting Botswana and beyond, Ditec Mobile manufactures innovative mobile phones. Made with the African in mind, the mobile phones produced by Ditec Mobile are not just any mobile phones. Consisting of a wide range of handsets, Ditec Mobile addresses a variety of needs and offers market oriented handsets. As one of the pioneers of inclusive innovation in the mobile handsets space, Ditec Mobile prides itself in providing platforms for its own applications and offers opportunities to other African application developers by availing its platform for use. With a range of affordable handsets, Ditec Mobile has been able to cater and differentiate itself as relevant to the needs of the African market.

Agricom

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovation inspired and has the local agriculture entrepreneur at heart. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agricom! Agricom is an e-commerce platform for local agricultural produce. Agricom, an interactive mobile communication platform for agricultural practitioners and stakeholders to market and sell their products and services, has been is making its mark in the local and regional innovation landscape including winning the SAIS 2013 Mobile Innovation Hackathon.

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Innogram | May 2014

Innovation Fund

Innovation Fund For Ecosystem Development By Kagiso Mathame

otswana Innovation Hub has revealed that it will establish an innovation fund to provide seed and early stage growth funding to qualifying businesses, ideas and concepts in 2014. Speaking at the CORMITEX fair which was held at Fairgrounds, Botswana Innovation Hub Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boshwaen said while he is happy to announce developments around the establishment of the Innovation Fund, he was equally happy about the strategic partnership Botswana Innovation Hub has entered with one of the leading global software companies Microsoft Corporation to create the Microsoft Innovation Centre.

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“If we may focus on the ICT industry, of which many of the companies represented here are part of, we note that the inherent structure of the industry in Botswana is that it has remained largely focused on reselling packaged products and solutions from elsewhere which have not been sufficiently adapted to local requirements,” he said. “This of course creates a significant opportunity for us to create new innovative businesses in software development and solutions,’’ he said. He said in driving the innovation agenda, the Botswana Innovation Hub is committed to technology transfer

partnerships and research activities that can impact on sectors important to the national economy including Information Communication Technology, technologies related to improving health and agriculture outcomes, mining and minerals, energy and the environment. “We are creating a package of products and services relevant to furthering our mandate of technology, transfer and research commercialization. These include the creation of a dedicated science and technology park under development near the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. The park will offer unique buildings and real estate with superior ICT connectivity,’’ he stressed. Elaborating on the Innovation Fund, Botswana Innovation Hub’s Director for Cluster Development, Budzanani Tacheba PhD said they would encourage co-funding as it would be a challenge to offer start-ups 100 percent funding. He was however not in a position to say what the minimum or the maximum amounts they would give for projects would be. “Conditions for the funds are yet to be set but what I can tell you is that we would be encouraging partnership amongst those geared to offer innovative solutions,” he said. I

OFFERING

Incentive Registration • 15% Corporate Tax • Labour Dispensation

• Microsoft Innovation Centre • Southern Africa Innovation Support • Council on Health Research for Development • Clean Tech

Technology Entrepreneurship Development • First Step Venture Centre

Strategic Partnership/ Collaborations

Rental Space within the Central Building • Competitive office and laboratories for rentals

The cultural significance of the dune and• Superior delta to Botswana and have been ICT infrastructure services embraced in the design of the Icon Building. These have been the conceptual drivers since the inception of the project. The embodied characteristics of Innovation Fund Property Development to Advance Science 03 06visible these landscape features have remained and prominent in the form and Technology Development • Seed and Early Stage Funding for Science and of the project, most notably with the building massing, the facade expression Technology • Serviced land for long term commercial an and the landscape planning. industrial lease and development. • Business and technology support services

Maranyane House Plot 50654, Machel Drive Private Bag 00265 Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 391 3328 Fax: +267 391 3289 Email: info@bih.co.bw www.bih.co.bw