Namibia is making progress toward the African Union target of investing 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in research and experimental development.

Preliminary findings contained in the 2022 National Research and Experimental Development Survey indicate that 0.6% of the country's GDP is invested in research.

Stakeholders in science, technology, and innovation have gathered at Swakopmund to validate various reports.

Among those reports is the 2022 National Research and Experimental Development Survey, which provides indicators of technological change.

It also serves as a tool for the evaluation of government programs and development goals.

The African Union set a target for member countries to invest one percent of their GDPs into research and experimental development.

However, only five sub-Saharan countries are closer to achieving this target, said Professor Nelago Indongo, UNAM's Director at the Center for Research Services.

"These are South Africa, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda. So far to date, the good news today, hon. governors, ladies, and gentlemen, as we validate the R and D survey, that Namibia has made significant progress in the last 8 years since the previous R and D survey by investing close to 0.6 percent of its GDP in R and D compared to 0.34 percent in 2014."

The survey further found that there is an improved investment in experimental research in agriculture by the business sector.

The sector spent about N$99 million on crop and animal production, accounting for the largest share of research and experimental development.

Forestry and logging were the second largest contributors with about N$97 million, while fishing and aquaculture came in third with a contribution of about N$54 million.

Apart from agriculture, the business sector also significantly improved its investment in research in the sectors of environment and health.