By Brenda Zulu
The Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED).
BIH Chief Executive Officer, Alan Boshwaen and Prof. Carel IJsselmuiden, the Executive Director of COHRED signed the MoU.
The purpose of the partnership between the two organisations is to promote
research and development for health, equity and development in
Botswana, the southern African sub-region and Africa in general.
According
to the MoU, the two organisations will work together towards the
development of an HIV-AIDS centre of expertise at the Hub and also on
the mobilisation of funds for research and innovation.
In
addition, they will also work on the establishment of a COHRED Africa
office within BIH - for the purposes of housing local and visiting staff
and coordinating COHRED's activities in the region.
On
advocacy, the MoU calls upon both organisations to mobilise regional
and international networks to support collaborations for research and
innovation for health.
BIH
is looking to tap into COHRED's expertise in research information
management systems in order to develop a comprehensive national database
for research and innovation on health in Botswana. The collaboration
with COHRED is also expected to expand the Hub's capacity to provide
facilities for health research and ethics.
COHRED
provides support to low and middle income countries on the development
of their research and innovation capacities for health, whilst BIH works
to develop and operate a science and technology park through which
research, development and innovation activities can be used to move
Botswana towards a knowledge economy.
BIH
is an affiliate member of the International Association of Science
Parks (IASP). In an effort to improve its innovation ecosystem, BIH has
forged strategic partnerships with key organisations such as the
University of Botswana, Global Business Labs, Microsoft, and the
Ministry of Health.
For more information, contact: Boitumelo Mokgatla-Moipolai at: mokgatla@cohred.org For media queries, contact: cohred@cohred.org
