SDG 9

SDG 9 calls for building quality infrastructure, promoting sustainable industry and fostering innovation to drive economic growth, job creation and greater shared prosperity.

In Botswana, the National Development Plan 12 embeds these priorities by emphasising infrastructure development (transport, digitalisation, energy), diversification towards export-oriented and value-added manufacturing, support for SMEs, technology adoption and skills development.

At BIUST, we recognise our role in advancing this agenda. Through our Transformative Strategy 2023-2028, BIUST is committed to becoming a driver of industry-linked innovation, supplying a pipeline of skilled graduates, partnering with industry and government to advance research and applied technologies, and supporting the development of resilient infrastructure and manufacturing capacity in Botswana. For example:

• BIUST’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship programmes, such as the recently launched “MASA Innovation” initiative — aim to nurture start-ups, deepen the innovation ecosystem and link deep-tech ventures to national economic transformation. BIUST+1
• BIUST’s research portfolio on “Innovative Technological Products & Services for Economic Development” includes advanced manufacturing, telecommunications & information technologies, nano-materials and automation technologies. BIUST
• BIUST’s partnerships with innovation hubs and industry, shown by its active collaborations via the Partnerships page—demonstrate how the university is engaging with external actors to foster technology transfer and industrial capacity. BIUST

Through alignment with NDP 12’s priorities and through institutional strategy, BIUST is positioned to contribute meaningfully to SDG 9 by:

• Supplying the human capital and research capacity needed for manufacturing and infrastructure development;
• Driving a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that supports export-oriented industry and value-added production;
• Partnering with industry, government and innovation ecosystems to accelerate technology adoption and infrastructure modernisation;
• Supporting digitalisation, automation and smart system deployment that will underpin Botswana’s transition to a high-income, knowledge-based economy.
• Supporting digitalisation, automation and smart system deployment that will underpin Botswana’s transition to a high-income, knowledge-based economy.