National ICT Research Capacity and Priorities for Cooperation - Republic of Botswana
National ICT Research Priorities
National ICT Research Priorities include: eInfrastructures, Technology-enhanced Learning, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, Entrepreneurship, Cyber Security, Energy and Water Ecosystem, Sustainable Development and Climate Change and eHealth.
National ICT Research Capacity
The following universities and research centres in Botswana are undertaking ICT-related initiatives:
- University of Botswana, Dept of Computer Science - Advance Computing; Information Management; Components and Systems; eInfrastructures
- University of Botswana, Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre
- University of Botswana, School of Medicine - Health/ eHealth Sciences; eInfrastructures; Simulations
- Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) - CITE Department - ICT for Healthcare, Technology-enhanced Learning, Resource efficiency; MEGE Department - Transport, Energy; Applied Sciences - Cyber Security; Earth & Environmental Sciences - Embedded Systems, Wireless Communications, Robotics, Software Simulation
- Limkomkwing University of Creative Technology - Faculty of ICT - Technology-enhanced learning, Advanced computing architecture, Future Internet (Interactive multimedia, wireless communication)
- Botho University - Faculty of Computing - Cloud Computing, Data mining in Education, Grid Computing, Robotics, Machine Learning, Cyber Security
- Botswana Accounting College - Department of Computing and Information Systems - Data analytics for Health, Technology-enhanced learning, cyber security optimisation, content access and analytics
ICT-39 Priority Themes
Based on consultation with stakeholders and inputs provided during the IST-Africa Horizon 2020 Training Workshop in November 2016 the following thematic areas are considered to be important in the context of the ICT-39 Call:
| Thematic Areas | Partners include |
| eHealth | University of Botswana (School of Medicine); Botswana International University of Science and Technology (CITE Department); Botswana Accounting College (Department of Computing and Information Systems) |
| eAgriculture | University of Botswana; Botswana National Food Research Centre, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, AgriBusinesss Botswana |
| Technology-enhanced Learning | Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (Faculty of ICT); Botswana International University of Science and Technology (CITE Department) |
| Energy | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (MEGE Department) |
| Sustainable Development and Climate Change | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (MEGE Department) |
Mapping to H2020 Themes
Based on an initial consultation process including engagement in the IST-Africa Horizon 2020 Training Workshop in November 2016, each University has identified their areas of research expertise and track record and has been encouraged to develop an organisational profile. A summary of these findings are provided below:
| Horizon 2020 Industrial Leadership | Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area |
| Components and Systems | University of Botswana , Dept of Computer Science - Smart Embedded Components and Systems; Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Earth & Environmental Sciences - Embedded Systems |
| Advanced Computing | University of Botswana , Computer Science Dept - Processor and System Architecture; Limkomkwing University of Creative Technology - Faculty of ICT - Processor and System Architecture, Simulation Software |
| Future Internet | University of BotswanaComputer Science Dept - Networks; Limkomkwing University of Creative Technology - Faculty of ICT - Interactive Multimedia, Wireless Communications; Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) - Earth & Environmental Sciences - Wireless Communications; Botho University - Faculty of Computing - Cloud Computing, Grid Computing |
| Content Technologies & Information Management | Limkokwing University of Creative Technology - Faculty of ICT - Technologies for Language, Learning, Interaction, Digital Preservation, Content Access and Analytics; Big Data Technologies' Advanced Data Mining, Machine Learning, Statistical Analysis and Visual Computing; Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) - CITE Department - Technology-enhanced Learning; Botho University - Faculty of Computing - Machine Learning; Botswana Accounting College - Department of Computing and Information Systems - Technology-enhanced learning, content access and analytics |
| Robotics | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) - Earth & Environmental Sciences - Robotics; Botho University - Faculty of Computing - Robotics |
Societal Challenges
| Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges | Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area |
| Health | University of Botswana, School of Medicine - Health/ eHealth Sciences; Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) - CITE Department - ICT for Healthcare; Botswana Accounting College - Department of Computing and Information Systems - Data analytics for Health |
| Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture | Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory Research on Animal Health: Epidemiology & control of foot and mouth disease, Causes of infertility in cattle, sheep & goats, Research on Foot Safety: Human causing disease bacteria in meat and milk, chemical & antibiotic residues in meat, Research on Public Health - Epidemiology & control of zoonotic diseases (e.g. rabies, anthrax) at the human/animal-wildlife interface; Botswana National Food Research Centre - Food Technology; Food Biochemistry; Food Microbiology & Biotech; Nutrition & Dietetics; Extension & Training; Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Department of Animal Sciences and production, Department of Engineering, Department of Economics and Extension) |
| Energy | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) -MEGE Department - Energy |
| Transport | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) -MEGE Department - Transport |
| Secure Societies | Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) -Applied Sciences - Cyber Security; Botho University - Faculty of Computing - Cyber Security |
Level of Research Maturity
Botswana is currently trying to diversify its economy and attracting international research units and software companies to base themselves in the Botswana Innovation Hub is a signal of the strategic positioning the government is taking to increase the level of research maturity of the country.
One of the key challenges is the small number of research institutions. While the current primary focus is on technology adoption and developing applications, there is a strong policy focus on further strengthening the research capacity within the country, and especially in facilitating the continued development of post-graduate programmes and involvement in cross-border research.
Participation in 9 FP7 projects and other International programmes such as the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS) (2011 - 15) and SAIS II (2017 - 2019) funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland will also assist in building international partnerships.
Up to May 2017, Botswana organisations are involved in 3 Horizon 2020 projects with research funding of over €250,000 across a range of thematic areas:
- FOOD, H2020-SFS-2014-1 - PROIntensAfric a (CSA - Coordination & support action) - Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa
- H2020-WATER-2015 - AfriAlliance (CSA - Coordination & support action) - Waternet Trust
- H2020-ICT-2016-INT - IST-Africa 2016-2018 (CSA - Coordination & support action) - Ministry of Transport and Communications