Botswana Innovation Fund Committee
Botswana Innovation Hub is mandated to coordinate the establishment of a functional and integrated national innovation ecosystem. Key to this, is the creation of Innovation Fund that promotes innovation through provision of seed/early stage funding to companies or organizations registered with the Botswana Innovation Hub which may subcontract part of the development work to universities and research organizations.
In addition, the Innovation Fund serves to encourage companies and organizations awarded funding to transfer skills to citizen employees by providing cash grants to be utilized for institutional training and on the job training programmes.
BIF Committee
The Minister (MoTE) has appointed the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF) Committee members to have oversight on implementation of the fund.
The Committee consists of independent members of the public from Private Sector and the business community. The Botswana Innovation Hub (Secretariat) has established a Fund Administration Office and will act as the secretariat for the fund.
Front Seated: The Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Hon. Dr. Alfred Madigele (Seated Centre) flanked by DPS MoTE Dr. Kekgonne Baipoledi (L) and MD at Fiducia Services, Dr. Thapelo Matsheka.
Standing in the Back Row (L-R): UB VC Prof. David Norris, Fund Coordinator, Sithembile Dingake, Investment Principal at NORSAD, Oteng Sebonego and Botswana Innovation Hub CEO, Alan Boshwaen. *Not included in the picture is GM Botswana Vaccine Institute, Dr. George Matlho
| PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBERS | STATUS/RECOMMENDATIONS |
| Ministry and Policy oversight as per the statutory instrument. | Dr Kekgonne Baipoledi, MOTE Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Research Science and Technology. He will be Chair the Innovation Fund Committee in accordance with the Statutory Instrument number 93 of 2017. He has previously held various senior positions within Government, specifically at the Ministry of Agriculture, in a career spanning over 25 years. The positions range from Head of National Veterinary Laboratories, Deputy Director, Veterinary Services and Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture
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| Industry | Dr. George Matlho, Botswana Vaccine Institute Dr Matlho is currently the General Manager for the Botswana Vaccine Institute. He possesses vast experience spanning over many years within the veterinary sector with emphasis on research and business development. He has previously held a number of senior positions at Botswana Vaccine Institute and Department of Animal Health and Production.
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| Private Sector/Fund Management | Dr Thapelo Matsheka He is currently Managing Director at Fiducia Services Limited. Dr Matsheka is an economist and an academic with ample experience at the University of Botswana before pioneering as Chief Executive Officer for the Government-funded Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). I moved to Aon Botswana as the Managing Director.
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| Academia | Prof David Norris, Vice Chancellor, University of Botswana Prior to his appointment at UB, Professor Norris was Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation at BIUST. Prof Norris has more than 20 years in Research and Innovation and has published and attracted research funding. Prior to his appointment to BIUST, Prof Norris worked in different positions in Botswana, South Africa and the USA.
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| Private Sector Investment/ Funding | Mr Oteng Sebonego; (NORSAD Finance) Currently Investment Principal at NORSAD Finance and Founder at CabIT Africa an innovative venture. Mr Sebonego has ample experience in assessment of project investments portfolio to ascertain their commercial level readiness. He has experience in business enterprise development from both a local and regional perspective.
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