WINDHOEK – The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) on Tuesday signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
The CEO of NCRST, Dr Eino Mvula, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dr John Steytler the NSA Statistician-General at the signing ceremony at the Polytechnic Hotel School.
Mvula and Steytler inked the MoU during the opening of the national workshop on science, technology and innovation on data collection.
The workshop that started on Tuesday ends today and is being attended by delegates from NCRST, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), and the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, among others.
The MoU signed between NCRST and NSA will enable the latter to conduct research surveys on behalf of NCRST and lays a foundation for a collaborative and strategic partnership.
Mvula said the MoU will facilitate the establishment of a national information management system, which will serve as a source of information relevant to science, technology and innovation related issues.
This will help the country to formulate appropriate systems for data collection, analysis as well as monitoring and evaluation in research, development and innovation and ensuring that resources are suitably focused on national development priorities.
Furthermore, Mvula noted currently there is a severe lack of data sufficient to understand research on science, technology and innovation in Namibia and the contribution it is making towards the country’s national development.
By Obrein Simasiku