Biotecnología medioambiental 5.5.1.1.1 Datos Básicos del Nivel 3

Projects were selected in relation to existing economic activities, better utilization of existing areas of strength, resources and capabilities. The most important criteria being human resource, utilizing the local skills developed over time.

Establishing the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH)

The hub is being developed to the high technology sector and will be located in a proposed free trade zone. Its aim is to provide room and incentives to the IT, communication, biotechnology companies including (start-ups) local and foreign businesses. The feasibility study has been concluded; the government intends to provide a suitable infrastructure and moreover support the incubation facility for start-up companies.

Agriculture

Commercializing, and restructuring the livestock sector. Support for Agro-industry projects through infrastructure provision, removing regulatory obstacles, and the appropriate incentives.

Establishing a Transport Hub

Botswana’s positioning at the centre of Southern Africa has the potential to be an ancillary regional transport and logistics hub for the region. Thus, becoming easier and cheaper for local businesses to distribute their products throughout the region.

Diamond Beneficiation and Related Processing Activities

Free trade zone privileges will be extended to all diamond polishing and other diamond related operations. Therefore, adding value to a local raw material that is currently being exported in its raw form.

Building Mining Diversification around Botswana’s Coal and Gas Energy Base

Coal and gas use for more energy production and establishment of other industries has full government backing, while allowing private sector involvement where feasible. Developing these resources will help drive energy prices down (good for overhead costs) and also contribute towards the country’s exports. Additionally, mining industry has substantial local skill-set and manpower within the country.

Substantial effort has been given to align Botswana’s strategic aims with other policies, programmes and strategies, i.e. Vision 2016 and the National Development Plan. For the strategy to succeed companies are encouraged to look outward regionally and internationally given the small domestic market. Finally, it is crucial to have measures and indicators in place for performance tracking and measurement, i.e. sector contribution to GDP, level of domestic investment and FDI.

4.4 Botswana’s Design Policy

Design policies are a sign of a country’s understanding and appreciation of design’s potential to positively impact the economy and the quality of life. Design policies advocate for design to be at the forefront of government’s strategies in innovation, manufacturing and enterprise. (Sources: Design Policy [UK] and National Design Policy [India] (2007)).

However, Botswana has yet to develop a design policy. The closest initiatives to a design policy are Botswana Technology Centre (BOTEC) and Rural Industries

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Innovation Centre (RIIC). These organisations undertake research, technology development and dissemination in line with Botswana’s vision and the National Development Plans. However, these organisations have no impact on the design related private sector and educational institutions.

4.4.1 Botswana Technology Centre (BOTEC) Source: BOTEC (2008).

BOTEC supports the national development goals by aligning research, science and technology products and services with the Vision 2016 ideals and the National Development Plans. It operates under the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology. Some of the activities include; Research programs, Service projects and Technology transfer activities, see Table 22.

Table 22: BOTEC areas of interest.

Activities Projects

4.4.2 Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) Source: RIIC (2010).

RIIC is the national appropriate technology development and dissemination centre for Botswana. It undertakes new and renewable energy activities with projects in solar cooking and pumping, biogas, energy management, solar space heating and solar cold room. Additionally, RIIC implements an agricultural technology development programme which has resulted in the development and dissemination of various technologies as follows: Sorghum thresher, Maize sheller, Chaff cutters, Fodder processor, Planters, Mini Silo, Grain grinder, Hammermill, Double Barrel

Dehuller, Animal Feed Mixers (two and three augers), Small stock dipping tank, Bush Pump, Sorghum milling plant, Animal feed mixing plant.

The centre has a full-fledged design and drafting office responsible for the production of all technical drawings and designs of products. It also undertakes prototype development and testing to ensure that the resulting prototypes conform to the designs and provide a suitable solution to the problem for which the technology is being developed.

4.4.3 Business Finance, Incubation and Management Services

CEDA and LEA are government organisations with extensive knowledge and up-to-date local industry information with a manup-to-date of diversifying the economy. Naturally they know the importance and have resources to do thorough market research and pass on the information to the companies they are assisting.

Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) Source: CEDA (2012).

CEDA was established by the Government of the Republic of Botswana to provide financial and technical support for business development with a view to the promotion of viable and sustainable citizen owned business enterprises.

The Agency is established to address the need for coherent and holistic support for the development of small, medium and large scale enterprises through the soft window and package offered through the subsidiaries. CEDA offers funding for capital expenditure, stock or working capital in new and existing business ventures. It also offers training and mentoring for new and seasoned entrepreneurs and business advisory services to entrepreneurs in various skills as identified through the needs assessment that is conducted during project monitoring.

BOTEC and RIIC have merged to form Botswana Institute of Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI). The aim of this merger is to be a research institution in the area of science and technology relevant to the local culture. Again, it fails to have design as the focus of their activities.

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Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Source: LEA (2012).

LEA is a coordinated and focused one-stop shop Authority that provides development and support services to the local industry needs of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs), encompassing training, mentoring, business plan finalisation, market access facilitation, and facilitation of technology adaptation and adoption.

The Authority's key sectors are manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and any services that support the three business sectors. In particular, LEA targets women, youth, and the unemployed. Part of the strategy is to encourage businesses to use locally available natural resources and raw materials, within the identified sectors above.

Also the authority strives to build competencies in quality and efficiency, and to encourage import substitution and export oriented products and services.

LEA does not provide finance to entrepreneurs, however the authority facilitates access to finance as well as provide support services to SMMEs, before and after funding. Efforts continue to be made by the Authority to engage various stakeholders in the Financial Services industry, including commercial banks, to work together in the development and support of the SMME sector in the country.

4.5 Design Education

Given the lack of design and UCD related publications on Botswana and the need to obtain information related to the study objectives, there was a need to conduct a scoping study (semi-structured interviews) in Botswana, see chapter 4: Scoping Study.

4.6 Chapter Conclusion

With a population of just over 2 million Botswana has to nurture trade relations with the neighbouring countries especially South Africa which has the largest population in the region and shares a lot of culture with Botswana. The government accounts for about half of employment, and this is one of the reasons for the need for economic diversification. Another reason for diversifying employment is that the diamond industry and mining in general contribute the vast majority of the GDP; and it this situation is not sustainable in the long run.