Botswana is set to overhaul its research and innovation landscape through the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC), a new autonomous body aimed at improving coordination, increasing investment and turning scientific discoveries into commercial products and services.
Presenting the National Research and Innovation Council Bill, 2026 before Parliament, Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere said the Council would serve as the central coordinating authority for Botswana’s research, science, technology and innovation ecosystem.
The Bill seeks to establish the NRIC as an independent institution responsible for overseeing the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national policies on research, development and innovation, with the broader objective of supporting Botswana’s industrialisation agenda.
Cabinet approved the drafting of the Bill on 7 May 2025, while the final legislation was approved on 8 June 2026 following consultations with stakeholders across the research and innovation sector.
Minister Tshere said Botswana’s current innovation system consists of various players, including research institutions, universities, government agencies, private sector organisations, incubators and funding bodies. These include institutions such as the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI), Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI), universities and innovation hubs.
However, despite these developments, the Minister said the country’s research and innovation performance remains below its potential due to weak coordination, fragmented efforts and limited collaboration between key stakeholders.
Botswana currently ranks 87th out of 139 countries on the Global Innovation Index 2025, placing fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research and development investment also remains below national and regional targets, with Gross Expenditure on Research and Development standing at less than 0.5 percent of GDP, below the African Union and SADC target of one percent and Botswana’s own target of two percent.
Tshere highlighted that the sector has been affected by institutional restructuring and changing mandates over the years, which has weakened national coordination. Among the examples cited were the creation of BITRI through the merger of BOTEC and RIPCO, and the establishment of NARDI through the consolidation of NAFTRC, DAR and BNVL.
The Minister said existing institutions such as BITRI, NARDI and Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub were not suitable to take on the role of a national oversight body because doing so could compromise their primary mandates and create conflicts of interest.
“The need therefore exists for a fit-for-purpose independent oversight body with clarified roles and responsibilities,” Tshere said, adding that international partners often prefer working with formal autonomous councils when establishing research collaborations.
Under the proposed legislation, the NRIC will coordinate research priorities, support innovation funding, accredit research institutions, issue research permits and maintain a national database of researchers and innovators.
The Council will also focus on bridging the gap between research and commercialisation by helping transform scientific discoveries into products, services and businesses that contribute to economic growth.
Government expects the Council to strengthen partnerships between universities, research institutions and industry while reducing duplication of research activities and improving Botswana’s competitiveness in the global innovation space.
To address challenges associated with reliance on public funding, the NRIC will introduce a blended financing model involving government, private sector partners, financial institutions and international donors.
The Council will operate through a conditional recoverable grants approach, where successful innovation projects can generate financial returns that are reinvested into future research and development initiatives.
Two major funds will be created under the NRIC: the National Research and Development Fund, which will support scientific research, and the National Innovation Commercialisation and Enterprise Development Fund, which will assist in turning research outputs into businesses.
The Council will be governed by a Board responsible for strategic oversight, with two positions reserved for youth representatives. It will also have a Chief Executive Officer, Secretary to the Board and other professional staff.
Functions currently performed by the Department of Research and Knowledge Business, Department of Innovation and Technology, National Research Fund and Botswana Innovation Fund Secretariat will transition to the new body.
Minister Tshere said government aims to operationalise the NRIC within 12 months after approval of the Bill.
