SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (T2) CENTRE ACTIVITIES: THE WAY FORWARD!

Simon Oladele Manager

Botswana T2 Centre

Presented at the 2013 LTAP/TTAP CONFERENCE 21st – 25th July 2013, The Grove Hotel, Boise, Idaho, USA

Outline of Presentation

Background Basic activities of T2 Centre Botswana (T2) Centre Establishment Botswana (T2) Centre Workplan Botswana (T2) Centre Achievements Botswana (T2) Centre hosting 6th T2 Conference Benefits, Challenges and Conclusion

Background • Technology transfer centre is a repository for

information about technologies and resources from appropriate technology to good practice.

• For example; South Africa T2 Centres under NRA established 1995; CSIR established 2000; KwaZulu-Natal established 2000;Tanzania T2 Centre established 1997; Zimbabwe T2 Centre established 2000; Malawi T2 Centre 2001; Zambia T2 Centre; Namibia T2 Centre 2003; Botswana T2 Centre established 2004 but started functioning in April 2011

• Generally, Technology Transfer Centre is expected to be

a “technology informer” with the goal of identifying, collecting, and

making available local resources for practitioners; accessing and joining networks of knowledge resources from the region and other parts of the world.

Then as the centre is developed, it becomes “active seeker”, “translator” and “promoter of beneficial innovations”

Botswana T2 Centre

• Transportation Technology Transfer centres have emerged as

• effective agents and catalyst for • improvements in disseminating

experiences, technologies, solutions, best practices and innovations.

• All Centres have been established through administrative arrangements, as a collaborative effort attached to existing institutions.

• T2 centres are attached to either National Roads Agency/ Ministry/ University/ or Research Institution assisted by USA FHWA

• All T2 Centres have a mission and functions.• All Centres are disseminating information and

conducting training• All Centres are financed by their Government.

Basic Activities

• Information dissemination through a quarterly newsletter publications ( Botswana T2 Newsletter)

• Local and regional training workshops, seminars and conferences, for example the 6th Africa T2 Conference on 4th – 8th March, 2013

• Twinning with a key US State department of transportation, e.g. New Mexico DOT, USA

• Establishing information program links with other technology centres, e.g. Tanzania, Namibia

• Promoting public/private partnerships

It is expected that each T2 centre worldwide should maintain five basic mandatory activities:

• Compile and maintain a mailing list (identification of users and stakeholders)

• Publish a quarterly newsletter (communication of successes and available resources)

• Conduct or arrange seminars and training sessions (delivery of the benefits)

• Provide material and information (delivery of the benefits and marketing of information)

• Evaluate effectiveness of programme (feedback for continuous improvement).

Botswana (T2) Centre Establishment• The establishment dates back to 2002 when a

delegate from United States of America Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) visited Botswana.

• This came to reality in June, 2004 and was officially launched on 14th July, 2011 to sensitize, publicize and create national awareness of its existence in Botswana.

• The Manager for the centre was appointed on 1st of April, 2011 and the Secretary was later hired on 1st August, 2012 to operate the centre with 15 Advisory Committee members

• The Mission: “To improve road, rail and air transportation systems through sustainable technology transfer, research and training of local transportation providers and users.”

• The Objectives: “F-P-E-F”(i) Facilitate technology transfer through dissemination of relevant best practices in all aspect of transportation.(ii) Promote research and training of professionals in the transport sector.(iii) Enhance traffic safety and public welfare of transport users.(iv) Foster economical, efficient and environmentally sound transportation systems.

Clearinghouse Activities at Botswana T2 Centre

Botswana Technology Transfer (T2) Centre Office

The Botswana T2 Centre Launch• Adverts were placed in newspapers and a radio

interview was arranged prior to the event. • The list of participants that numbered about 200

was captured and maintained in a database. • The launching brought participants from

Government Ministries and Departments, Higher learning Institutions, Organizations and Associations, United State of American Embassy, Tanzania T2 Centre, Namibia T2 Centre

Launch of Botswana T2 Centre on 14th July, 2011 in UB

Figure 4: Presentation of a token of appreciation to Keynote Speaker -Engr. H.K.S. Bishanga

Participants at the official launch of T2 Centre on 14th July 2011

Botswana T2 Centre workplan

Benchmarking while attending International Conferences to network with existing T2 Centres:1.Local Technical Assistance Program Conference in Texas, USA (2012)2.Local Technical Assistance Program Conference in Boston, USA (2011)3.2nd AFCAP Conference in Mozambique (2012)4.12th Biennial Botswana Institution of Engineers Conference (2011)5.10th Low Volume Roads Conference, Florida, USA in connection with TRB & FHWA on 24-28 July,20116. 5th Africa Transportation Technology Transfer Conference, Arusha, Tanzania on 21-25 Nov., 2011 7. Networking with T2 Centres & attending T2 meetings in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia,

Information dissemination/quarterly newsletter – 3 editions and publication of the 6th Africa T2 Conference Proceedings with ISBN 978-99912-961-3-5

Conducting capacity building programmes / short courses & Workshop for stakeholders - Stakeholders’ Forum in 2012 and the proposed Stakeholders’ Workshop in September, 2013

A. Building strategic partnerships – FHWA, LTAP, SSATP, BIEB. Twinning with US institution - (New Mexico Department of Transportation

Operation of Information Centre and Library for the benefit of Stakeholders – Exhibition at MTC Transport meeting (PITSO), BIE conference, 5th Africa T2 Conference

Performing self-evaluation of the programme

10th Low Volume Roads Conference Paper Presentation Sessions

LTAP Boston 2011 USA T2 Centre Managers’ Conference

Technology Transfer Centres all over the world were represented in Boston LTAP Conference 2011.

Representatives from Namibia, South Dakota, Botswana, Tanzania, New Mexico, Czech Republic during the International forum for Technology Transfer Managers.

• The international Conferences covered relevant topics on Technology Transfer such as

• Training, • Communications and Marketing, • Social Media and Technology• Safety issues, • Challenges in setting up T2 Library• Clearinghouse issues

5th Africa T2 Conference paper presented by Botswana T2 Centre Manager

Benefits and Conclusion • The Botswana T2 Centre has made progress in

terms of establishment of the T2 centre as well as carrying out technology transfer activities within its functioning years

• The T2 Centre has organised a considerable number of exchange visits, received a number of publications and CDs from FHWA, USA.

• The Centre has published four editions of its quarterly newsletter and hosted the 6th Africa T2 Conference on 4th -8th March, 2013

• The way forward in operating a sustainable Transportation Technology Transfer (T2) Centre in Botswana requires the support of all stakeholders in the transportation sector.

• The expectation is that the stakeholders in Botswana will make use of the recommendations from the conference to improve the transportation sector through dissemination of relevant information, training and research.

THANK U !