COSTECH-HEET: Driving Tanzania’s Innovation and Digital Transformation
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), through the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project, is making remarkable progress in strengthening research, innovation, and digital infrastructure across the country.
During a Project Coordination (PCs) meeting at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialist highlighted the project’s role in enhancing technology transfer, commercialization, and connectivity within higher learning institutions (HLIs) and research & development (R&D) centers.
Dr. Rigobert Ngeleja, speaking at the meeting, emphasized that the project has greatly increased the visibility of Tanzanian research and innovation whereby the 8th and 9th Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference and Exhibitions (STICE) attracted over 4,000 participants, with 200 research papers presented, 32 manuscripts published, and 45 expert dialogue sessions facilitated. This growing engagement has positioned Tanzania as a regional hub for scientific research and innovation.
Also to bridge the gap between research and industry, COSTECH has facilitated credit windows to support startups and spin-off companies. The SAMIA Innovation Commercialization Fund within NFAST was launched to help innovators transform research ideas into market-ready products, contributing to economic diversification and job creation.
Dr. Ngeleja said again, the project has enhanced innovation support systems by establishing fully functional Innovation Intermediaries in nine HLIs, including Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and Innovation Hubs. Additionally, 35 TTO supervisors have received specialized training in innovation management, ensuring long-term sustainability and effective industry-academia collaboration.
Either COSTECH has invested heavily in digital transformation, improving internet connectivity and digital services in HLIs, R&D centers, and teacher training colleges where the key achievements including Enhanced internet access in 17 HLIs and 15 Teacher Colleges; Higher Education Research Institution Network (HERIN) uptime improved to 99%, enabling seamless research collaboration and e-learning and Free video conferencing and open data platforms to foster communication and knowledge-sharing among institutions.
On the side of safeguarding research and innovation, COSTECH has trained 27 participants from six HLIs in intellectual property (IP) protection, leading to the drafting and successful registration of 10 patents at BRELA. This initiative is creating a stronger culture of IP protection and commercialization among Tanzanian innovators.
COSTECH has also streamlined research management by Developing three national frameworks and guidelines to improve research governance, Registering 1,200 researchers and 500 innovators into a national STI database and Launching a documentary film project to showcase the COSTECH-HEET initiative’s impact on Tanzania’s research and innovation landscape.
The COSTECH-HEET project is playing a transformational role in Tanzania’s research and innovation sector. By improving research visibility, facilitating commercialization, enhancing digital connectivity, and strengthening intellectual property rights, the initiative is laying the foundation for a sustainable, technology-driven economy.
As Tanzania progresses towards a knowledge-based economy, the long-term impact of COSTECH’s efforts will be felt across academia, industry, and policy-making—ensuring that science, technology, and innovation remain at the heart of national development.
