Innovation Hub reserves P12m for indigenous products

Pauline Dikuelo | Monday May 27, 2024 06:00

Indigenous touch: Phatsima Matshidiso's Phatsima Organic uses moringa and moretologa to produce everything from moringa capsules to moretologa juice

This funding aims to boost the growth and development of technology-driven and knowledge-intensive businesses within the country.

BDIH Brand and Communications Manager Kemiso Ben said the indigenous knowledge call is part of BDIH’s broader efforts to foster a vibrant tech ecosystem, providing necessary financial support and resources to the selected start-ups and companies. She said during this year’s call for funding, BDIH received 106 applications.

“Following a rigorous adjudication process by an independent expert panel of adjudicators, eight projects were selected. “The successful proposals were selected based on the most compelling concept, value and impact the project will have on the economy,” she said.

The selected products include mophane flour, moretologa soap, mokgalo/buffaki thorn cleansing products, donkey milk cosmetic products, hoodia gordoni organic shake, mombaimbai tree organic washing powder, and lerotse snack bar.

The funding will enhance the companies’ operations, expand their market reach, and contribute to the country's overall economic development.

The indigenous knowledge ‘Kitso ya Setso’ call was open to grassroots innovators, communities, and social entrepreneurs, emphasising the importance of protecting intellectual property and ensuring benefit-sharing with local communities from which the knowledge originates.

The focus areas included food, nutrition, cosmetics, and traditional supplements. The desired outcome from the call was the introduction of indigenous knowledge-based products and services into crucial markets whilst ensuring that there is benefit-sharing with the local communities from where the knowledge stems.

Botswana has a wealth of indigenous knowledge entrenched in its people borne from cultural practices passed down from generation to generation. For many years products found in the natural environment and ecosystems have been exploited with great benefit to the local communities who know where to source them and how to use them.

The call was part of the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF), a Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology initiative intended to promote innovation by providing early-stage funding to innovative projects. “The Innovation Fund is currently running a call for applications that has no closing date and innovators can apply any time of the year,” Ben said.

Since the inception of the fund in 2018, a total of 23 companies have benefited to the tune of P18 million.