_{The Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe presenting his vision to the BITRI Executive Management team}

This week, the BITRI Chief Executive Officer Prof Shedden Masupe and his Executive Management, hosted the Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOTE), Honourable Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe and MOTE management team for a meet and greet session. The session, which is part of the Minster’s tour of Departments and parastatals under MOTE, was intended to brief the Minister on the mandate of BITRI, and the significant projects the organization is undertaking and those in the pipeline.

Prof Masupe gave an overview of the organization, the research focus areas, as well as the important projects such as the Climate Smart Agriculture Lessons Learnt manual, Seding^® solar lights, the Kgalagadi Sand Building Block/Brick (KSBB) Technology,  investigations of the potential of local raw materials to produce portland cement clinker, dust masks made from nanofibers, water purification filters made of various media, as well as other projects under the Information Systems and Technologies (IST) focus area.

Minister Letsholathebe when presenting his vision of the Ministry, and BITRI reiterated the Government ’s commitment towards a knowledge-based economy, which accordingly, BITRI must lead. The Minister added that the realization of this ideal should yield an inclusive economy that would benefit a wide section of the nation and society. The Minister also implored the Management team to keep him informed on the progress and challenges BITRI face so that he is better able to articulate them at higher decision-making platforms.

Later during the session, the Minister’s team were taken on a conducted tour of the Centre for Materials Science facilities.