By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
The Botswana Institute for
Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) has brought its applied research and
technology solutions closer to communities through its participation in the
2026 National Science Week held in Shakawe village in the Okavango District.
The event, held under the
theme “Harnessing Science, Technology, Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge to
Drive Economic Diversification for a Prosperous Botswana,” provided an
opportunity for BITRI to engage directly with the Shakawe community and
surrounding areas.
The institute said the
location was particularly relevant to its applied research mandate, given the
region’s natural environment and accumulated indigenous knowledge and cultural
resources.
The official opening
ceremony was officiated by the Assistant Minister of Communications and
Innovation, Shawn Ntlhaile, who said hosting the event in Shakawe brought
together researchers, communities and government leaders to explore ways of
advancing socioeconomic development.
Ntlhaile noted that the
Northwest catchment region possesses significant environmental, indigenous
knowledge and cultural resources that could be transformed into tangible
products and services.
He stressed the need for
communities to play an active role in identifying problems, testing solutions
and determining whether technologies are suitable for their specific
conditions, rather than simply serving as consumers of products developed in
laboratories located in urban areas.
At the event, BITRI
showcased its Wireless Sensor Networks capabilities, highlighting applications
in environmental monitoring, agriculture, water management and data-driven
decision-making.
The institute also
demonstrated its work on TV White Space technology, which can support improved
connectivity and access in areas where conventional communications
infrastructure may be constrained.
The exhibition further
incorporated the digitalisation priorities outlined in the Botswana Economic
Transformation Programme by positioning BITRI as a potential contributor to
Smart Government through the development of unified digital platforms for public
service delivery.
BITRI said its participation
reflected its mandate as Botswana’s national research and development
institution, focused on conducting needs-based research and translating
research outcomes into practical technologies that address national priorities.
