Vice President Lucia Witbooi has challenged the University of Namibia (UNAM) to convert green hydrogen research into commercially viable technologies, businesses and industries, saying scientific innovation must translate into economic growth and industrial development.
Speaking at the launch of the REALTEST Green Hydrogen Research Project at UNAM’s main campus in Windhoek on Monday, Witbooi said Namibia’s ambitions should extend beyond producing green hydrogen to building knowledge-driven industries powered by local research and innovation.
She said government expects UNAM’s Institute for Applied Advanced Research (IAAR) to play a central role in commercialising research and developing technologies that support the country’s industrialisation agenda.
“The government therefore looks to UNAM to provide the research excellence, technical expertise, scientific leadership and innovative capacity that will underpin Namibia’s industrial development,” Witbooi said.
According to the Vice President, the institute should drive a process in which scientific ideas are transformed into inventions, innovations, technologies, enterprises and industries.
She said the REALTEST Green Hydrogen Research Project will strengthen Namibia’s capabilities in hydrogen safety, advanced materials testing, engineering innovation and scientific research, positioning the country to participate across the green hydrogen value chain.
These capabilities include research, product design, materials development, manufacturing, production, operations and maintenance.
Witbooi said Namibia should leverage its renewable energy resources to build domestic industries rather than relying solely on exports of green hydrogen and green ammonia.
“Our ambition is to build an industrial economy. Our ambition is to create more prosperous and resilient communities. Our ambition is to develop knowledge-intensive industries. Our ambition is to ensure that Namibians become the scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs and industrial leaders who will own, shape and drive this transformation,” she said.
She said countries that invest in scientific research and technological innovation are better positioned to establish new industries, create employment and diversify their economies.
The Vice President added that government will continue investing in research infrastructure, laboratories, entrepreneurship and technology transfer to ensure scientific discoveries are commercialised and contribute to economic growth.
She also urged UNAM to strengthen its role as a national centre for applied research and technological advancement.
The REALTEST project is being implemented through a partnership involving the governments of Namibia and Germany, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, SASSCAL, Projektträger Jülich, UNAM and other partners.
Witbooi said the initiative will help build the scientific and technical expertise required for Namibia to compete in emerging industrial sectors linked to the global energy transition.
“The wealth of the 21st century will not belong to the nations with the largest deposits beneath their soil, but to those with the greatest knowledge within their people. Namibia has the opportunity to possess both,” she said.
