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Implementation Plan 2012
“innovation systems” approach. This approach has been guided by the successful experience of other economies, as well as by
regional and continental agreed commitments set forth by the SADC STI protocol, the Regional Indicative Strategic Development
Plan (RISDP) and the Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA).
In particular, the present implementation plan set out to address critical issues affecting RSTI capabilities in Botswana is guided by
recommendations contained in the following documents:
Science and Technology (S&T) Policy for Botswana (1998) – developed and approved by Parliament at the onset of the
National Development Plan (NDP) 8 (covering the period 1998-2003). The S&T policy devised multiple objectives and strategies
that intended to infuse the application of science and technology to broaden Botswana’s economic base and drive sectoral goals for
socio-economic development. The Policy was intended to be used by Government as a guiding instrument for future development
of RSTI in the country and as a tool for economic diversification and improving productivity.
Botswana Research, Science and Technology (BNRST) Plan (2005)- The plan was developed by the Ministry of
Communication, Science and Technology of Botswana to outline priority investment areas in research and how they would meet
Botswana’s national goals, (e.g. contribution to Vision 2016 and NDPs). The plan also elaborated specific policy interventions and
institutional developments that would support its implementation in the medium and long terms.
Review of the 1998 S&T Policy (2009) - The rationale of this exercise was to assess the extent to which the goals of the 1998
S&T policy were achieved in the subsequent decade, and also re-align the strategic goals of the 1998 policy to the national
development planning process (Vision 2016, the NDP 9 and 10). The revision of the 1998 S&T policy entailed extensive key
stakeholder and sectoral consultation. The key outcome of this review was a detailed analytical document of the RSTI landscape in
Botswana identifying challenges and gaps to be addressed by a policy. It revealed that the setbacks that hampered successful
R&D were virtually similar to those identified in 1998, implying that the 1998 policy had made little impact in the creation of jobs and
wealth.
National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (2011) – which is a revision of the 1998 S&T policy,
consolidated with the BNRST Plan and the recommendations of the 1998 policy review of 2009. The Policy is the result of
extensive consultation with stakeholders and indicates key assets in the move toward an RSTI-led economy. The next stage
entails translating the Policy into a series of implementation programmes and institutional structures that drive the commitments
expressed in the Policy. The Department of Research, Science and Technology (DRST) currently plays the central role in
achieving these goals. All these documents agree on the need to prioritize collaboration and coordination amongst all stakeholders
involved and affected by research, science, technology and innovation, in order to attain broad national development goals (as
expressed in Vision 2016 and NDP 10). They also point out Botswana’s deficiencies in RSTI and the urgency to establish a
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