HRDC Awards 2016/17 Research & Innovation Grants

There is need to improve the competitiveness of Botswana’s research landscape. The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) corroborated this noble initiative by encouraging the industry - tertiary education linkages to generate the necessary knowledge needed to transform Botswana from a resource – intensive to a knowledge-based economy through issuance of research grants.

HRDC through the Department of Statistics, Research Development and Innovation (DSRD & I) held a ceremony on the 14th February 2017 to recognise and award the  best thematic research proposals for 2016/17 HRDC Research & Innovation Grant Project initiative.

During a befitting and well attended Business Breakfast Seminar, held at Avani Hotel & Casino in Gaborone, Dr Raphael Dingalo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HRDC officially awarded the 14 Research Grant Awardees. This event was held under the theme ‘Promoting the Uptake and Utilisation of Research Outputs for Industrial Development’. 

HRDC last year invited researchers, Tertiary Education Providers (TEPs) and learners to submit research project proposals. HRDC received 41 proposals. Out of 41 proposals that were evaluated only 14 proposals were successfully selected after an intensive evaluation process. All qualifying research proposal projects each received P50, 000 Grant from HRDC. The evaluation process was conducted by Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH).

Dr Raphael Dingalo, Chief Executive Officer of HRDC underscored in his opening remarks, “This Research and Innovation (R&I) Grant Project is critical to drive the envisaged knowledge - based economy and in particular to promote the linkage between the industry and tertiary education institutions.”

Speaking at the Grant Awarding Ceremony, Dr Owen Nkosinathi Sotshangane from Walter Sisulu University said, “There is no doubt that sustaining success in innovation and entrepreneurship and establishing industry and academia partnerships are essential and can significantly assist in reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality in most countries. However, it can only be individuals who understand academia and business that can be the driving force behind successful partnerships.”

The 14 Successful Research Proposals are listed in the table below:

Commendably, the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) sponsored Dr Owen Nkosinathi Sotshangane to train all Research Grant Awardees.

The training for all Research Project Teams of the aforementioned proposals was held at HRDC on the 15th and 16th February, 2017. The training focused on the importance of Intellectual Property (IP), research ethics and it was during the training that  HRDC’s expectations were shared with Awardees. As part of research monitoring and evaluation, all researchers are compelled to submit quarterly progress reports to HRDC. A uniform standard Progress Report Template was developed and shared with all Research Awardees to use when populating research reports for HRDC. Interestingly, in an effort to guide, motivate Grantees and specifically to quality assure the R & I Grant Research Projects, HRDC procured the services of four mentors for the duration of the project.  Each mentor was nominated and selected based on their area of expertise and their capacity to offer guidance to all Research Awardees of all the aforementioned projects. The projects have since commenced under the guidance of the mentors with anticipated applied research outputs. Mentors have also been asked to submit quarterly progress reports to the Council. HRDC team responsible for the Grant Project has also lined up periodic visits for the purposes of engaging research teams and their mentors. Moreover, HRDC will be closely working with Institutions and researchers to ensure accountability and strict financial controls for the projects. There will be submission of financial reports to HRDC at the end of the project. Progress report meetings will be held during the course of the research project.

It has since emerged that researchers in Botswana have not fully grasped the importance of conducting research with the uptake and utilisation of their research outputs on their agenda. There is need for paradigm shift from just presenting research findings at conferences and through journal publications.  The prevailing challenge is aggravated by local University Research Strategies aimed at increasing the number of research outputs by University staff, particularly with regards to publications in the scholarly literature.

Regrettably, these researches are used as indicators during performance appraisals as opposed to how research - based knowledge should be utilised. By and larger, it is imperative that University Staff should also contribute to evidence-based policy and practice. Remarkably, HRDC through this Grant Project, intends to coordinate efforts in bringing all key stakeholders together to ascertain increased uptake in research output.