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Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, says the new University of Botswana (UB) strategy focuses on enhancing research quality and innovation to achieve national impact and gain regional and global recognition.

Professor Masire was speaking during a workshop under the theme, Amplifying Research Commercialisation Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Transformative Societal Impact held at the UB Conference Centre on the 25th of July 2024.

She said the newly organisational implemented structure sought to make research the conner stone of UB. She also noted that the previous university strategy was primarily focused on teaching and learning.

Professor Ramogola-Masire further observed that the new strategy was influenced by societal and economic factors at the national, regional and international levels. She also highlighted that UB was developing a comprehensive research-to-commercialisation system aimed at translating publicly funded research into successful commercial ventures.

Koya Capital Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Handiza Magoro, stated that a knowledge economy was characterised by structures that provided incentives for entrepreneurship, utilisation of knowledge, availability of skilled labour, as well as a robust education system.

Ms Magoro said access to information and communication infrastructures (ICT) as well as a vibrant innovation landscape that included the academic world, private sector and civil society also contributed towards a knowledge economy.

She also observed that for Botswana to achieve a paradigm shift from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, it must invest in education and training, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, build robust infrastructure with a focus on technology and digitisation, attract and retain talent as well as implement supportive government policies and regulations.

World Bank Botswana Office Country Representative, Mr Liang Wang, stated that the World Bank has praised Botswana for sustaining one of the world’s longest economic booms. He noted that Botswana's economic growth since the late 1960s had been at par with some of Asia’s largest economies such as China. He further explained that the Botswana Government had consistently maintained budget surpluses and held extensive foreign exchange reserves.