The Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH), the country’s digital innovation engine, has been relaunched as the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BD&IH) as the government ramps up efforts to embrace and harness the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
The Fourth Industrial Revolution Digital Transformation Strategy, or SmartBots, has been implemented in the Southern African country to accelerate digital transformation.
Tshepo Tsheko, the Acting CEO of BD&IH, said that as the organisation adjusts to its new role, it would refocus on fostering high-tech companies and commercialising ideas for sustainable economic growth to realise its objective of being Africa’s innovation leader.
“All of this is being done with the main objective of bolstering Botswana’s global competitiveness through supporting the national innovation ecosystem.” Tsheko described the SmartBots Strategy as “an action plan to deliver a smart, sustainable society for Botswana through digitalising the public sector for more effective service delivery.”
He went on to say that BDIH’s role is to assist the co-creation of innovative, citizen-driven public services that can be implemented and promoted on the local market.
It also aims to highlight services co-developed by young innovators, SMEs within established frameworks and sold through newly established companies incubated at the BDIH, first in Africa, then throughout the world.
“We are redefining ourselves, driving change, and creating the present and future of national development innovation,” Tsheko said.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi confirmed in his recent State of the Nation Address that 4IR will be used in the country’s digitisation strategy and that the transformation to a knowledge-based economy will necessitate significant investment in strategic infrastructure.
“Our people will be able to unlock and enable high production as a result of this.” I implore you, Batswana, to rise and participate in this transformation,” he concluded.
