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Implementation Plan 2012
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Based on the National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation of 2011, a detailed implementation strategy is
hereby presented, defining priorities and action plan. The policy represents Botswana’s commitment to diversify her economy,
attain global competitiveness, and enhance quality of life of the Batswana through development, adaptation and application of
research, innovation, and technology.
The implementation of the National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) is critical for the achievement
of the knowledge and technology-based competitiveness that are expected to form the basis for economic sustainability of
Botswana and are closely interrelated. They collectively affect and concern all sectors of society. RSTI policy must go beyond
simplistic models based on supporting basic research to more complex models of networks and interacting with stakeholders.
In line with the current global dynamics, Botswana needs to adopt a systemic approach to support RSTI efforts. This systemic
approach requires a clear vision and objectives, programmes, incentives, measures, roles, targets and monitoring indicators. Detail
planning is necessary to effectively address identified gaps in a structured and functional manner that will allow leveraging of
synergies across RSTI actors to achieve greater impact than individual non-coordinated interventions.
The National Policy on RSTI is a revision of the Science and Technology (S&T) Policy of 1998. The policy reiterates the important
role of RSTI in economic development and acknowledges the need to integrate it into all sectors of the economy through multiple
stakeholders. Since 1998 significant strides were made towards the advancement of Science and Technology, including the
establishment of a Ministry responsible for the coordination and leadership of Research Science and Technology in Botswana and
the Botswana Innovation Hub to provide a platform for collaboration between academia, industry and public sector. The
advancement of RSTI can accelerate the attainment of Botswana’s national development goals if it manages to leverage the
country’s relative advantages while filling the gaps. The RSTI policy and implementation plan represent steps in that direction.
The present implementation plan proposes mechanisms and structures for coordination of linkages across sectors, priority setting
and allocation of funds for RSTI activities, as well as guidelines for specific programmes to be adopted in the short to the long term.
The proposed structures include advisory, executive and funding bodies to be coordinated at the highest level of policy to ensure its
effective implementation across all sectors. It is expected that the proposed structure of institutions and programmes will supplant
the currently fragmented support to RSTI activities, and lead to broader and faster socio-economic progress. As noted by experts,
in today’s global economy investment in Research, Science, Technology and Innovation is not luxury reserved for advanced
economies, but an economic and social necessity, and a key part of any strategy for sustainable development.
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