The Royal Science & Technology Park (RSTP), was created through the vision of, His Majesty, King Mswati III. The Vision is well enshrined in the Act of Parliament, the Royal Science & Technology Park Act of 2012. The Vision is the first comprehensive effort, to promote science; technology; and innovation, in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The aim of the RSTP, is to provide steadfast support for basic research and innovation. In doing so, we provide a coherent approach to maximising the innovation dividend
The idea, to develop a science and technology park, started in 2007, with the creation of an initial concept. In 2008, a team of experts, did a study, to decide the feasibility of launching such a park. They completed the study in 2009, and found that the idea was feasible, and that it would be a gain to the economy of Swaziland. A master plan was developed in 2010. The RSTP was established through the Royal Science & Technology Act of 2012. It was then designated as a Special Economic Zone through the Special Economic Zone of 2018.
The Royal Science & Technology Park is divided into two divisions which are the Nokwane Site and the Phocweni Site. These two sites utilize an estimate of 317.17ha of land, for which consists of industrial development land, and shared between research laboratories, administration centres and residential.
The Phocweni Site is the hub of information technology driven services and products. It is a platform for research and development in ICT, production of high tech products, capacity building in latest technologies, marketing and trading. The Phocweni Site covers an area of 160 hectares, it is located 10 km away from the Nokwane site and it shares the “One Stop facility” that creates an enabling environment to the investor wishing to settle within the Science & Technology Park. It currently has the Songcondvongcondvo Wemaswati House which houses the National Data Centre, The Advanced School of IT, The National Contact Centre and the Business Incubator.
The National Data Centre provides IT managed services through the provision of advanced technology infrastructure that will enable companies to outsource their ICT functions and services, thus focus the bulk of their effort and budget on the delivery of their core products and services.
The Advanced School of IT is affiliated with Aptech Limited which is a global retail and corporate training solution’s provider with a presence in more than 40 countries and a network of over 1300 training centres worldwide. This institution offers customized training solutions and learning content
The National Contact Centre (NCC) is a business unit located on the 2nd Floor of Songcondvongcondvo Wemaswsati House. The National Contact Centre is one of the many initiatives taking the country to the world class status and it is Eswatini’s first National Contact Centre that offers world-class business process outsourcing solutions.
The business incubation service is a comprehensive and highly flexible combination of business development processes, infrastructure and people designed to nurture innovative start-ups so that they survive and grow through the difficult and vulnerable early stages of their development.
The Nokwane site is a multi purpose platform for R&D in bio related technologies, production, marketing and trading. This site consists of the biotechnology research center, incubation facilities, service center and agricultural related biotechnology facility e.g. pharmaceutical
