By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Botswana Digital &
Innovation Hub (BDIH) and South Africa's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cross-border
innovation and establish a joint investment platform to support startups,
researchers and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The agreement was signed
during the 9th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialization
Week, marking a new phase of collaboration aimed at accelerating innovation-led
economic growth across the region.
Speaking at the signing
ceremony, BDIH Chief Executive Officer Kabo Phetlhu announced plans to
establish a Joint Botswana-South Africa Innovation Fund that will finance
collaborative ventures between researchers, innovators, startups and SMEs from
both countries.
Phetlhu said the fund will
be developed in phases with the long-term objective of attracting capital from
regional and continental institutions to expand investment opportunities for
African innovators.
He noted that while Africa
has no shortage of innovative technologies, one of the continent's biggest
challenges remains access to patient, coordinated capital capable of supporting
promising innovations from development through to commercialization.
The proposed investment
platform is expected to strengthen collaboration between Botswana and South
Africa by providing financial support for joint research, technology
development and innovation projects with commercial potential.
The partnership also seeks
to foster stronger regional innovation ecosystems by encouraging collaboration
between academia, industry and entrepreneurs while improving access to
financing for technology-driven enterprises.
