Science and Statistics formalise agreement

Mutual areas of cooperation including authorizing the Namibia Statistics Agency to conduct Surveys on behalf of science research were observed when the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) and the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday.
Both institutions recognised the importance of undertaking Research & Development and Innovation surveys to produce the data needed to compile indicators on the status of Science, Technology and Innovation in Namibia, and as such have established a formal basis for cooperation in areas of Research & Development and Innovation surveys.

Dr Eino Mvula, Chief Executive Officer of the NCRST said, “We are proud to partner with the Namibia Statistics Agency. This partnership would facilitate the establishment of a national Research, Science, Technology and Innovation information management system, which will serve as a source and repository of information that is relevant to science, technology and innovation related matters.” “It would also foster the application of the data to understand the state of the National Innovation System in order to support the development of evidence-based policy as well as constructive feedback to all stakeholders in research, science, technology and innovation”, he added.
Such an understanding will encourage the application of the data of such cooperation to understand the state of the National Innovation System, to support the development of evidence-based policy, and the public policy debate which provides constructive feedback to government departments, and to other institutions of the society, such as policy research institutes, universities and industries.
Currently there are no official statistics to present the country’s position on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation.