‘Free land, duty-free equipment for science facilities’
THE Government will provide land free of charge to investors who intend to build facilities for innovation, research and development, while equipment and materials for such centres would be imported duty-free, as part of targeted incentives meant to promote scienceled development, President Mnangagwa has said.
A Research and Innovation Fund will be set up to, among other uses, bankroll research and innovation at these facilities, while Government will assume costs for registering patents and the roll-out and application of research into commercial applications.
Writing in his column, the President, who said local scientists must be at the centre of the transformative programme, also exhorted experts in the Diaspora to relocate back home and be part of the revolution designed to leverage on science, technology and innovation for development.
“Firstly, we offer facilities for innovation, research and development. Additionally, we encourage through a raft of incentives any Zimbabwean wishing to complement Government in building such facilities and innovation hubs, across disciplines. Land shall be provided free of charge. Whatever technologies, mechanical aids and materials which are required for such facilities, shall be cleared into the country duty-free. My Government is ready to provide research parks across the country, so research and development are conducted in situ.”
He said the Research Fund will be availed to foreign-based local scientists who intend to relocate home. It will also be used to sponsor research with a bearing on Zimbabwe’s economy by local scientists in the Diaspora. Visiting experts who come to “cross-fertilise” with local scientists will also be catered for.
“Our industries will be primed to accommodate trials and industrial applications as we seek to transform and to modernise our economy.”
The strategy, he said, will be biased towards development of technologies required to modernise smallholder farmers’ operations as well as small-tomedium enterprises.
These two sub-sectors are considering key drivers of economic transformation.
“State procurement policies will develop a pronounced bias towards buying local technologies and solutions, and funding fairs and platforms where local inventions are exhibited, both here at home and abroad. Both our Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and our Agricultural Show should yearly develop categories where local inventions are exhibited and rewarded.
“So, too, should our Mining Entra and other fairs I would want to see started to focus on innovation in industry.”
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development is currently preparing a major conference on science, technology and innovation. The conference will attract local scientists, including from the Diaspora.
President Mnangagwa directed Government ministries to collaborate with industry to identify possible research areas and engage local scientists and innovators to develop solutions. — (For the full article by the President turn to Page 4)