These Hands Social Enterprise, a Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) network member company today announced a partnership with Letshego Botswana that will see Letshego Botswana facilitating a grant that These Hands was awarded by the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) for the IDIN-SADC (International Development Innovation Network – SADC). IDIN-SADC is a regional consortium led by an Executive Committee (EC) for grassroots innovation ecosystem builders around SADC.

As a country Focal Point for the SAIS Programme, BIH facilitated a SAIS Call for Proposals for the IDIN-SADC project that promote SADC relations between member countries; Botswana, Zambia Namibia and Tanzania by running innovation centres, running innovator exchanges, sharing lessons,  training of trainers, and providing each other technical advice and support for projects commercialization.

These Hands Social Enterprise was successful in the SAIS Call for Proposal and was awarded an opportunity to administer the overall consortium grant of 138 565 Euros and be lead project coordinator. These hands will implement activities in Botswana as per an agreement with the IDIN SADC Executive Committee.

The Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS 2) is a regional initiative that supports the growth of new businesses through strengthening innovation ecosystems and promotion of cross-border collaboration between innovation role-players in Southern Africa.  SAIS 2 is supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland, in partnership with the Ministries responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. In Botswana, SAIS programme is administered by BIH.

Commenting on the partnership, BIH CEO Alan Boshwaen said “It is pleasing to see a member company such as These Hands Social Enterprise grow through the BIH incubation structures to being capable of managing a grant of this magnitude. The partnership will not only benefit These Hands Social Enterprise but more social innovators in SADC. BIH will monitor and account for the successful implementation of the project”.

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About Botswana Innovation Hub

Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) is a networked organisation that promotes innovation and technology entrepreneurship. Its primary goal is to support the commercialisation of solutions developed by BIH supported entities.

BIH was established to contribute towards the diversification of the economy and transform Botswana towards a knowledge economy by:

• Supporting start-ups and existing companies to grow by providing innovation capacity building as well as access to funding and national technology transfer office services
• Creating linkages between different players in the national innovation ecosystem to identify and capitalize on collaboration opportunities
• Attracting like-minded, innovative and technology driven companies and institutions to establish their operations in the Park
• Managing and developing the Science and Technology Park to create a thriving innovation ecosystem

The organisation has two subsidiaries namely Botswana Innovation Hub Properties (BIHP) and Botswana Innovation Hub Investments (BIHI). BIHP’s mandate is to develop and manage the Science and Technology Park and BIHI is a special purpose vehicle established to serve as the Hub’s investment arm. Its role is to attract, invest in and manage commercially viable and technology related investments.

For more information or interview opportunities, please contact:

Kemiso Ben

Brand & Communications Manager

Botswana Innovation Hub

Tel: +267 369 6413

Cell: 71321701

Email: kemiso.ben@bih.co.bw