Discussions at the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute highlight the need for stronger public-private collaboration and a proposed national shared laboratory, as the government cites advances in crop development, livestock genetics, vaccines and industrial processing technologies.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Frehiwot Tamru, has called for stronger collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders to accelerate the commercialization of research findings, while discussions at the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETIn) highlighted the need for a National Shared Laboratory to serve institutions across the country.
The proposed facility would help prevent duplication and waste of resources, improve the use of existing institutional capacities through shared access and strengthen the competitiveness of Ethiopia’s biotechnology sector, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology said.
The discussions took place during a review of BETIn’s performance over the past five years, during which the institute completed several research initiatives and transferred technologies to end-users, contributing to food security, public health and industrial development, according to the Ministry.
The achievements highlighted included improved maize and rice varieties, modern enset-processing technologies, Spirulina cultivation, genetic improvement of Boran cattle, poultry vaccines and industrial-grade machinery and technologies transferred to youth enterprises, commercial producers and investors.
Tamru said the research outcomes were directly improving citizens’ livelihoods and called for stronger cooperation across the public and private sectors to turn research results into marketable products, create broader employment opportunities and improve quality of life.
The consultative meeting brought together state ministers, senior ministry officials, heads of accountable institutions and BETIn’s executive management. Participants reviewed major research projects, technology transfer initiatives, strategic implementation and institutional capacity, while outlining priorities for the institute’s next phase.
BETIn Deputy Director General Hailu Dadi presented the institute’s operational performance over the five-year period, as well as its performance against its first-quarter plan for Ethiopian fiscal year 2019 (2026/27).
Participants also assessed the institute’s organizational structure, mandates, human and technical resources, project and financial implementation, resource utilization and administrative systems.
The Ministry said BETIn maintains research partnerships with international institutions and is implementing several externally funded research projects.
Tamru and her delegation concluded the visit with a tour of the institute’s laboratories, modern facilities and operational work areas.
By: Tewodros Balcha ,Buna Kurs, Ethiopian Specialised Industries Newsdesk
