Design-BW News

24/08/2022

WATCH|| BDIH is hosting the FemBioBiz Pitch Day where local female-led businesses and innovators will go through 3 minute elevator/speed pitches in the hopes of winning some cash prizes and getting international exposure for their businesses.

The event is part of BDIH’s partnership with SANBio (Southern Africa Network for Biosciences) to run the FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme that targets women-led businesses and innovators (including students with ideas) in the agri-food, health, bio waste, natural beauty products and nutrition.

19/08/2022

Tune in to BOOST UP to catch with innovators pitching their startups and ideas. Live from the Botswana Development and Innovation Hub

BOOST UP is a three-part startup support programme organised by the Southern African Innovation Collection (SAIC), in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanania, and Zambia.

BOOST UP targets startups that use technology to solve a societal challenge and are looking for skills that could help them pitch their businesses and become investment-ready.

01/06/2022

26/04/2022

Botswana commomerates World IP day in Francistown

21/04/2022

Thursday 21 April 2022 is World Creativity and Innovation Day and was established to encourage everyone to dig deep and find their own inner da Vinci.
Creativity and innovation are beneficial in every walk of life, occupation and career. From those in customer service finding ways to improve their customers’ experiences to scientists whose every workday is filled with learning new things about the world and finding new ways to apply it.

From politicians who could use their creativity to find new ways to solve problems and aid the public to medical workers who can seek out new ways of doing things that will protect their patients as well as society.
With efforts supported by the United Nations, World Creativity and Innovation Day encourages every individual to imagine what it would be like to live in a better world with different solutions and more cooperation.

How to Celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Day: Generate Ideas That Solve Problems, Look at the World Differently (Sometimes, creativity and inspiration come from doing things a little differently than usual.) Meet with Different People, Share Innovative Ideas, Visit a New Culture (sometimes, innovation and creativity come from seeing something from across the world that could be done better in our little corner.)

World Creativity and Innovation Day could be the day that can set the world on a whole new path!!

21/04/2022

08/04/2022

Weather Watch|| Department of Metrological Services (DMS) wishes to warn to the public on the likelihood of heavy rainfalls, strong winds and cold temperatures occurring over the weekend across most places.

25/03/2022

GOVERNMENT COMMITS FUNDS FOR LOCAL RESEARCH

For the upcoming financial year, Government has secured P45 million to stimulate and support local research and innovation, as well as to build capacity in different economic sectors.

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr Douglas Letsholathebe revealed that his ministry is committed to contributing to capacity building, diversification of employment, as well as advances in research and development, through development and implementation of policies and strategies in key strategic areas.

He said “My Ministry has advanced progress on the development of the following strategies: National Space Science and Technology Strategy; Indigenous Knowledge Systems Strategy; Science Communication and Public Engagement Strategy and Private Sector Engagement Strategy.”

Furthermore, during the 2022/23 financial year commencing 1st April, the development of the National Research Ethics and Integrity Policy shall commence. It will Mainstream and institutionalise research ethics across various institutions involved in research is of high importance. The introduction of the Research and Ethics Policy will help research institutions and individual researchers to conform and adhere to local and global research ethics considerations.

Dr Letsholathebe said “this shall prevent research misconduct in our research and innovation community. My ministry has been working around the clock to set up the core to start igniting action in the research and innovation space. We have embarked on extensive consultation with our research and innovation ecosystem on issues that affect them. Through virtual engagements and others, it is very clear that much work still has to be done to level the research and innovation landscape in Botswana and other countries.”

Government has stepped up our efforts to establish a National Research Fund. Dr Letsholathebe said “the National Research Fund accounts for a complete research value chain with positive societal impact. The Fund will guard against loss of intellectual property through enforcement of intellectual property management processes. Institutions entering into partnerships will guard against loss of intellectual property and protect Botswana from being a ‘petri dish’ of research.”

15/03/2022

WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY 2022

Digital technologies are becoming key enablers for consumers of financial services as they are driving significant changes across the world.
This according to this year’s 2022 World Consumer Rights Day, a movement that aims to generate new consumer-centered insights and campaigns for digital finance. Digital finance that is inclusive, safe, data protected and sustainable.
Here in Botswana, the Competition and Consumer Authority alongside consumer groups celebrated the day under the theme, the role if Consumer groups and their efficiency. Consumer groups seek to advocate for consumer rights and to protect consumer from unfair business practices.
According to Consumers International by 2024, digital banking consumers are expected to exceed 3.6 billion. In the developing world, the proportion of account owners sending and receiving payments digitally has grown from 57% in 2014 to 70% in 2017.
Furthermore, digital finance brings new opportunities but also new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers. Digital finance can increase the likelihood that the most vulnerable are left behind.
World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on 15 March to highlight the need for consumer protection and empowerment. The day also aims to draw attention to market malpractices, which undermine the rights of consumers and what more can be done to empower buyers.

04/03/2022

Engineers Registration Board Botswana hosted the 2022 Engineering Week, with keynote address by Honourable Eric Mothibi Molale - Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development.

In his speech Minister Molale said "Engineers are innovators and as innovators are expected to lead in a multi sectoral effort to generate solutions to the challenges. These include high rates of unemployment, huge income gaps, poor service delivery."

"Lets not only research part tiem but go into production, grow the conomy import substitution and create employment." -- Minister Molale.

Full link to video: https://fb.watch/bxzr94DUR1/

04/03/2022

03/03/2022

World Hearing Day is an annual campaign organized by the World Health Organization’s Office for the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness. There are events taking place throughout the world, including one on March 3, at the World Health Organization. The campaign’s goals are to disseminate information and encourage people to take steps to avoid hearing loss and enhance hearing care. The holiday was celebrated for the first time in 2007.

The World Hearing Day 2022 with the theme “To hear for life, listen with care” will focus on the importance and means of hearing loss prevention through safe listening.

Before 2016, it was called International Ear Care Day. WHO chooses a subject each year and prepares instructional materials and makes them publicly available in a variety of languages. It also plans and reports on events all across the world. (source:nationaltoday.com)

While we may not consciously pay attention to it and at times neglect it, but our hearing health is quite significant for our overall well being. A good hearing ability helps you to connect with people - listen, engage, observe while hearing loss may have an adverse impact on your quality of life, to the extent that it may affect one's mental health.(sourcehindustantimes.com)

Some lifestyle changes to practice to help prevent hearing loss can include Take frequent breaks from loud noise
If your job or surrounding makes it difficult for you to avoid loud noises, frequent breaks can help provide some relief to your ear.

You need to take a frequent break from loud noise or using even headphones. Every person needs to take break after every hour. Constant exposure to loud noise can impact your hearing. If your profession demands usage of headphone for long hours then it is recommended to use headbands

24/02/2022

On 23 February 2022, telecommunications giant Mascom became the first service provider to introduce 5G to Botswana.

Below is the Minister of Transport and Communication Thulaganyo Segokgo's speech.

24/02/2022

On 23 February 2022, telecommunications giant Mascom became the first service provider to introduce 5G to Botswana.

"Connectivity drives Social, Economic and Digital transformation, with unprecedented connectivity capability of 5G it will take us and our society to a whole new level." Mascom CEO Dzene Makhwade Seboni

17/02/2022

This past week the world commemorated World Radio Day under the theme "Radio and Trust."

The theme emphasises that radio remains one of the trusted and widely used medium for information and communication.

Furthermore no matter your age or location, you can always connect with the world through the radio.

Below video is the UNESCO message and how Botswana celebrated the day in Letlhakane.

Full Video link: https://fb.watch/bdMe6rGfqh/

11/02/2022

Botswana Broadcasters convene in Letlhakeng village (Kweneng District) to commemorate the 11th edition of UNESCO World Radio Day 2022. Held This year under the theme "Radio and Trust".