MEIYSAC Hosts National Workshop to Strengthen RSTI Sector Under NDP6

MEIYSAC Hosts National Workshop to Strengthen RSTI Sector Under NDP6. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) is hosting a National Stakeholder Workshop focused on reviewing progress and strengthening stakeholder roles in the Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) sector under Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).

The workshop, officially opened by Deputy Minister Hon. Dino Ballotti, brings together government, academia, industry, civil society, and development partners. In his remarks, Ballotti emphasized that NDP6 represents a collective national commitment to economic transformation and social inclusion. He highlighted that Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) must be embraced across all sectors as a cross-cutting enabler to drive efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainable development.

The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of moving beyond ambition to measurable impact, ensuring that research, innovation, and policy translate into tangible socio-economic outcomes. He pointed to job creation, economic diversification, and youth empowerment as key priorities. Ballotti also underscored the need for stronger coordination, enhanced research-industry linkages, and mobilization of both public and private sector support to achieve the NDP6 target of increasing the RSTI sector’s contribution to GDP to 1.5% by 2030.

Welcoming participants, Dr. Lisho Mundia, Deputy Executive Director for Higher Education, Training, Research and Innovation, described the workshop as a strategic and timely engagement aimed at strengthening Namibia’s National Innovation System (NIS). He noted that RSTI has evolved from a supporting function to a central driver of human development, productivity, and sustainable economic growth.

Dr. Mundia emphasized the need for a systems-based approach, where institutions, policies, partnerships, and resources work in coordination. He called on stakeholders to identify gaps, share lessons from NDP5, and propose actionable solutions to accelerate progress.

The two-day workshop will review sector performance, strengthen partnerships, and align national efforts toward achieving NDP6 targets. It reinforces Namibia’s vision of becoming a highly skilled, innovative, and competitive nation, leveraging science, technology, innovation, and creativity — including the transition from STEM to STEAM — to drive inclusive growth and prosperity.