| Title | Bill No. 23 of 2026 NATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION COUNCIL BILL, 2026 (Published on 26th June, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Bill Summary | The object of the Bill is to establish an autonomous body, the National Research and Innovation Council, (‘the Council”) which will oversee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national policy on research, development and innovation so as to catalyse the country’s industrialisation efforts. The Council will address the challenges of funding and financing research and innovation through a governance and operational model informed by global best practices and tailored to Botswana’s unique needs. As the central coordinating body of the National System of Innovation (NSI), the Council will collaborate with key NSI stakeholders, including universities, public and private research institutions, industry partners and civil society to unify research and innovation efforts across the country. The Council will enhance coordination among NSI actors to eliminate redundancies and bridge the gap between scientific discovery, industrial application and societal impact. The Council will oversee generation of locally relevant knowledge and its translation into tangible innovations and accelerate progress towards sustainable development. |
| Bill Date | 2026-07-28 |
| Introduced Date | 2026-07-13 |
| Progressed Date | - |
| Parliament number | 13 |
| Type | Government Bill |
| Status | Second Reading |
| Portfolio | Test Responsible Ministry |