Dr Erold Naomab, Vice-Chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), has said there is a need to include low-income communities and underserved groups in the development of novel products and services.
Naomab made the remarks at the start of the Innovation Investment Readiness (IIR) Week currently taking place in the capital.
NUST, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) are collaborating on the initiative, where this week, various stakeholders from the private and public sectors gather to discuss issues concerning the country’s development.
He stated that new business opportunities exist for entrepreneurs who want to combine profit with a social impact and that Namibians can only make meaningful contributions to the country’s development through constructive, transparent and “brutally” authentic engagements backed by action.
“As you are aware, the world is shifting toward renewable energy, and Namibia is positioned to become Africa’s renewable energy hub. NUST contributes to this goal by developing its Green Vision 2030 which aspires to contribute to a future in which all energy is derived from sustainable sources and sustained by a public that understands and values the social, economic and environmental benefits that green energy provides to our communities,” he said.
Naomab stated that the identified targeted industries include food and agro-processing, mining and value addition, digital and global business services, and green hydrogen, among others, and that the sole goal is to strategically and collectively deliberate on mechanisms to strengthen Namibia’s position as an appealing investment destination.
“Namibia has reached a tipping point where we will no longer accept imported innovation. Instead, research and development should focus on developing our innovation path to empower and impact society,” he said.
This is only possible if deliberate efforts are made to build capacity in core 4IR skills such as data science, artificial intelligence, cyber security and robotics, he noted.
“One of the most important recommendations is for Namibia to provide dedicated funding for investing at least 1 per cent of its GDP in research, innovation and development,” Naomob said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
