The Minister of Communications and Innovation, Honourable David Tshere, accompanied by Assistant Minister Honourable Shawn Nthaile and senior officials, recently visited the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) headquarters. The visit aimed to give the new Ministry leadership an in-depth understanding the institute’s mandate and to gain insight into its ongoing and future projects.

The BITRI Chief Executive Officer Prof. Shedden Masupe, along with the BITRI senior management team, hosted the delegation. In his presentation to the delegation, Prof. Masupe provided an overview of BITRI’s research focus areas and highlighted significant projects the institute has undertaken since its establishment, including the Seding® solar lights, systems development for various government organs, the Coal-to- Liquid project, projects under the air filtration, water filtration, biotechnology for animal and human health, the Centre for Material Science (CMS), sensors, wireless sensor networks, TV White space, and the Kgalagadi Sand Building Block (KSBB) technology. Other notable innovations included efforts to utilize local raw materials for producing Portland cement clinker, and the nanofiber technology which can spawn products required in the health and mining sectors.

Hon. Minister Tshere emphasized the government’s vision for transforming Botswana into a knowledge-based economy, with BITRI playing a leading role. He stressed that achieving this vision would promote inclusivity and broad societal benefits. The Minister urged BITRI’s management to keep him updated on progress and challenges to ensure effective advocacy at higher decision-making levels.

The visit concluded with a guided tour of the CMS facilities, offering further insight into the institute’s technological and research capabilities. The visit included a tour of other facilities, including the Additive Manufacturing laboratory and the biotechnology laboratory, the latter being geared towards developing solutions to animal and human health challenges. This engagement was part of the Minister’s broader tour of departments and parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Innovation and opened doors to continued engagements between the ministry leadership and BITRI.

In his Closing Remarks, the Assistant Minister Honourable Nthaile appreciated the work of the institute and expressed optimism in relation to the BITRI developing products and services that solve real challenges that the country and specific localities are facing in the present and in the future.