What Botswana Innovation Hub does

Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH), formerly Botswana Innovation Hub, is the national innovation agency of Botswana and the operator of the country's primary Science and Technology Park located in Gaborone. Established to diversify Botswana's economy away from diamond dependency and accelerate the transition to a knowledge-based economy, BDIH runs a multi-layered support system for early-stage and growth-stage technology startups and entrepreneurs — offering incubation and acceleration programmes, mentorship, intellectual property advisory, hackathons (SmartBots, ZooHackathon, UI/UX Design Hack), pitch competitions (FNBB Foundation Pitch Session, Deal Day with Angel Network Botswana), and the annual Innovation Botswana summit.

The organisation's core infrastructure includes a carrier-neutral Data Centre with high-capacity international connectivity and secured power, commercial office space, developable land, co-creation labs, and the Skills Ranker online platform (skillsranker.bih.co.bw) for digital skills assessment. Two wholly-owned subsidiaries operationalise the business: Botswana Innovation Hub Properties (BIHP) manages the Science and Technology Park, and Botswana Innovation Hub Investments (BIHI) functions as the investment arm. BDIH administers the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF), a Ministry of Tertiary Education programme providing early-stage grants of up to P2 million per project across mining, clean technology, biotechnology, ICT, and indigenous knowledge sectors, and has attracted anchor investments such as NantBotswana's multi-million Pula vaccine manufacturing facility. The Government of Botswana has allocated P1.83 billion to accelerate innovation and digital transformation programmes, and the ecosystem now includes over 2,300 registered innovators alongside international partnerships with MIT Legatum Foundry Fellowship, IBM Digital Nation Africa, WIPO TISC Network, International Trade Centre, and Scalar International.

BDIH's revenue mechanics combine three streams: managed-services income from Science and Technology Park operations (BIHP), recurring subscription income from commercial office rentals and membership programmes, and investment management returns through BIHI. Customer concentration is dispersed across a long tail of startup tenants and partners, with major anchors being government-linked entities and select large tenants such as NantBotswana. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; office space follows monthly billing cycles while membership tiers are billed annually.

Name

Botswana Innovation Hub

Legal name

Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub

Website

https://bih.co.bw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH) is Botswana's government-linked national innovation agency, operating a Science and Technology Park in Gaborone that serves technology startups and entrepreneurs through incubation, acceleration, funding access, office space, and a carrier-neutral data centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaborone

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Science and Technology Park Management: Managing and developing the Science and Technology Park to create a thriving innovation ecosystem through property management and facility services
2. Commercial Office Space and Membership: Rental of commercial office space, land to develop, and membership fees for accessing hub services and facilities
3. Investment Management: Through BIHI subsidiary, attracting and managing commercially viable and technology related investments as investment arm

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BDIH operates a Science and Technology Park in Gaborone providing commercial office space, land for development, a carrier-neutral Data Centre, and shared working spaces to technology-driven businesses. It delivers innovation support services including incubation and acceleration programmes, mentorship, IP advisory, and access to early-stage funding through the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF) administered by the agency. Membership programmes and tenant facilities management services round out the commercial offerings for registered innovators and technology startups.

Product overview

Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH) operates as a Science and Technology Park that provides a multi-layered ecosystem of facilities and services for technology-driven businesses. The core infrastructure includes a carrier-neutral Data Centre with international connectivity, commercial office space, and land for development. BDIH offers membership services with business support including intellectual property advisory and technology entrepreneurship development. Key programmes include the Incubation and Acceleration Programme, the Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF) providing early-stage grants, the Skills Ranker platform for skills assessment, and the WIPO TISC Network for technology information services. BDIH also partners with international programmes including IBM Digital Nation Africa, MIT Legatum Foundry Fellowship, and the Scalar Botswana Innovation Programme for climate-tech startups. The organization has attracted significant tenants including NantBotswana for vaccine manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BDIH Data Centre A carrier-neutral data centre facility providing telecommunications infrastructure with high capacity international connectivity and secured power for technology-driven businesses at the Science and Technology Park.
• Commercial Office Space and Land for Development Commercial space, land to develop, and office rental facilities within the Science and Technology Park for technology-driven and knowledge-intensive businesses.
• Membership Services Membership programme providing access to BDIH facilities, business support services, intellectual property advisory services, technology entrepreneurship development, and strategic partnership collaborations for innovators and technology startups.
• Skills Ranker Platform An online skills assessment and ranking platform enabling registration for hackathons and programs, providing digital access to BDIH initiatives for innovators.
• Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF) A Ministry of Tertiary Education initiative administered by BDIH providing early-stage funding grants up to P2 million per project to innovative solutions in sectors including mining technologies, clean technologies, biotechnology, ICT, and indigenous knowledge systems.
• Incubation and Acceleration Programme A comprehensive programme providing technical advice, coaching, mentorship, access to markets, partner programmes, office space, and subsidised corporate tax benefits to help startups grow from ideation through commercialization.
• WIPO Technology Innovation Support Centre (TISC) Network A network coordinated by BDIH providing innovators, researchers, and SMEs with access to technology information services, IP management support, and patent information searches through partnerships with Botho University, BCET, University of Botswana, BIUST, and BITRI.
• Tenant Facilities Management Services Tenant facilities management services provided to companies leasing space at the Science and Technology Park, supporting day-to-day operations within the Park.
• IBM Digital Nation Africa Programme A free comprehensive online learning platform launched by IBM in partnership with BDIH to empower African youth with skills and tools to design and develop innovative digital solutions, covering AI, Blockchain, and IoT modules.
• Scalar Botswana Innovation Programme (SBIP) A 12-month venture programme supporting 10 climate and digital technology startups, taking participants from ideation and prototype development through to commercialization and investor readiness, with potential access to a US$150 million Africa Decarbonisation Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,300 innovators registered in the ecosystem
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scalar InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Launched Scalar Botswana Innovation Program (SBIP) - 12-month venture programme supporting 10 climate and digital technology startups. Connects startups to US$150 million Africa Decarbonisation Fund targeting Southern Africa energy gap.
• MIT Legatum Foundry FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024Six-month prestigious fellowship program accelerating and interconnecting Africa's innovation ecosystems. 37 fellows from across Africa working on complex challenges including cold storage, supply chains, and clean energy access. BDIH hosts immersion events in Botswana.
• Government of BotswanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024BDIH as national innovation agency aligned with Vision 2036 and SmartBots Digital Transformation Strategy. Government allocated P1.83 billion for innovation and digital transformation programs.
• Botswana Defence Force (BDF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2022MoA signed for joint cooperation on research collaboration projects covering robotics and mechatronics, telecommunication, computer and electronics, software development, and aircraft engineering. Partnership enables BDF access to local technological innovations and supports import substitution goals.
• International Trade Centre (ITC) Youth and Trade ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 20214-month Ye! Botswana Skill Building and Mentoring Programme for 40 youth-led businesses (founders under 35) focusing on digital skills, financial literacy, and market analysis. Led by local and international experts.
• Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2021Partnership with AESA, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to launch Grand Challenges Botswana - funding programme for bold innovations in agriculture, tourism, and space applications.
• WIPO / Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 December 2019MoU establishing WIPO Technology Innovation Support Centre (TISC) Program for Botswana. BDIH serves as National Focal Point coordinating TISC activities, providing technology information access and IP services to innovators.
• Botho University, BCET, UB, BIUST, BITRIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019TISC Network institutions forming the TISC Program network to assist researchers and scientists access technology information for product development. Joint MoU for WIPO TISC Program implementation.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018IBM Digital Nation Africa Programme launch at BIH providing free online learning platform with IBM Digital Badges for AI, Blockchain, and IoT skills. Empowers African youth with tools to develop innovative digital solutions.
• GLOBASE / Kelley School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBA consulting program where teams partner with BDIH clients to solve business problems. Spectrum Analytics benefited from sales cycle optimization through Kelley School consultants.
• Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on certifications for Indigenous Knowledge Systems grantees, ensuring products meet quality standards before market entry.
• Government of Botswana (SmartBots)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFourth Industrial Revolution Digital Transformation Strategy implementing digital government services. BDIH hosts hackathons for UI/UX design of government online channels as part of digital transformation.
• Sunday Standard, Virtual Business Network, Duma FM, Stanbic BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors and collaborators for Innovation Botswana 2019 event, providing media coverage and financial support for annual innovation showcase.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Innovation Hub (South Africa): South Africa's government-backed innovation agency and science park operator based in Pretoria, running incubation, acceleration, and technology park services. Directly comparable as a national-mandated African innovation hub with science park infrastructure and funding programmes.
• Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA): Kenyan government special-purpose vehicle developing Konza Technopolis as a technology and innovation city, with mixed-use development, technology business incubation, and anchor-tenant attraction. Closely mirrors BDIH's role as a state-backed science park developer in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB): Nigerian innovation hub offering incubation, acceleration, and venture support for African tech startups, with a strong focus on pre-seed and seed funding. Comparable in providing incubation, acceleration, and funding pipeline for African technology entrepreneurs.
• iHub Nairobi: One of Africa's longest-running tech innovation hubs, providing co-working, incubation, and community programmes for early-stage startups in East Africa. Directly comparable as an African tech startup hub with incubation and community programmes.
• Norrsken Foundation (East Africa): Sweden-rooted impact-focused foundation operating Norrsken House Kigali and broader East Africa startup hub and fund programmes. Comparable as a multi-programme innovation hub providing community, incubation, and capital access for African entrepreneurs.
• Technology Innovation Agency (TIA, South Africa): South Africa's government agency funding and developing technology innovations through grant funding, incubation, and technology transfer. Directly comparable as a state-mandated innovation funding and development agency in Southern Africa.

Regional players

• Silicon Cape Initiative: South African tech ecosystem initiative supporting startups, investors, and talent in the Western Cape. Comparable as an African innovation ecosystem builder focused on community, events, and stakeholder connection.

Broad incumbents

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub offering incubation, acceleration, and commercial real estate for science and technology ventures at much larger scale. Comparable as a mature, multi-programme science and technology park operator, though serving a different geography and scale.
• Station F: Paris-based world's largest startup campus combining co-working, incubation, and a partner network of corporates and VCs. Comparable as a flagship startup campus / tech park combining physical infrastructure with curated programming.
• Tus-Holdings / TusPark: Large Chinese university-linked science park and incubator network with global sites, combining real estate, incubation, and investment. Comparable as a globally scaled science park and innovation hub operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YourBIH
• Facebookfacebook.com/7377874295
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/botswanainnovationhub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Botswana Innovation Hub