Bio and Emerging Technology Institute

Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin), formerly known as the Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBTi), ushers in a new era of innovation and scientific exploration. Established on June 08, 2016, with regulation number 388/2016, the institute has undergone a name change to reflect its broader scope of research.

This transformation is guided by Proclamation No. 1263/2021, titled “Definition of Powers and Duties of the Executive Organs Proclamation.” This proclamation, building upon the foundation laid by Proclamation No. 916/2015 (which defines the powers and duties of organs within the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia), empowers BETin to expand its research focus beyond biotechnology to encompass the exciting realm of emerging technologies.

As an affiliated institute under the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MiNT), BETin remains dedicated to addressing critical societal challenges and promoting sustainable development. We invite you to explore our website and learn more about how BETin is shaping the future through cutting-edge research and collaboration.

The essence of the institute is in supporting, organizing, and directing the various research works conducted separately in different universities and research institutes. The institute will resolve and address the major challenges in society that are related to health, food security, the realization of sustainable development and facilitate the basement of industrialization, work on human development and to establish the general framework and basic structures for national innovative research.

BETin mainly focuses on world-class research activities in biotechnology and emerging technology which are major pillars for the nation’s Economic development. It is concerned with supporting comparable research activities in the country, working out capacity building, and paving the way for scientific research which are in line with society’s ethics and moral values that are subsequently used in the social and economical benefits for the people.

Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin) is organized in two research centers namely, Biotechnology and Emerging Technology. The biotechnology center encompasses 5 directorates namely, Animal Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, Health Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology and Industrial Biotechnology. While the emerging technology center comprises 5 directorates namely, Nanotechnology, Materials science and Engineering, Reverse engineering, computational science and intelligent systems, Genomics and Bioinformatics. The institute is mandated with designed policy and strategy on research and tech transfer, dissemination and customization  and training at any level of education and keeping the quality and sustainability of bio and emerging technology based economic development. This could be achieved by making sure that bio and emerging technology researches and trainings deliver the desired result in contributing the ultimate objective of the industrial transformation  and human resource development.

The main reason for combining the two areas is that technology innovation demands multidisciplinary approaches instead of focusing on limited disciplines. For instance, industrial biotech needs the application of nanotechnology and materials science basic skills and knowledge to produce enzymes and various chemicals. On the other hands, leather industries, textiles, bio-fuels, food and beverage industries need and integrated work so as to produce quality products. Therefore, due to the rationale mentioned above and many others, the institute endeavors for cooperative research activities to meet the intended outcomes.