Botswana Innovation Development Hub (BIDH) is inviting entrepreneurs with innovation or technology driven solutions to apply for grants under the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF).

BIF is a Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology initiative, administered by BIDH that has been operational since 2017.

This year’s call comes as the country has identified digital transformation as one of the national priorities in the Transitional National Development Plan of the 2023/2024 budget among business environment reform, infrastructure development, value chain development, sustaining livelihoods, and climate change.

Authorities in Botswana believe that national goals of achieving a high-income country status by 2036 rests primarily on the strength of its digital ecosystem, specifically on access to affordable information and telecommunications technology (ICT) infrastructure.

With the recent BIF call, the Fund is looking for applications that address national and global challenges

“We are seeking innovative solutions that have completed technology readiness level or early stage research and now require funding for development stages and pre-commercialisation,” said Diane Mongudi, Director at Botswana Innovation Hub

According to Mongudi, BIF places emphasis on the facilitation of local intellectual property development and registration, innovative solutions at prototype development, technology transfer and pre-commercialisation.

Mongudi said that the Fund is open to Botswana registered companies and the Intellectual Property shall reside in Botswana.