Innovation Journey For Tanzania Innovators

By Dr. Erasto Mlyuka

Technology Management and Transfer Manager
Ag. CEO DTBi
Friday, June 16, 2023 www.costech.or.tz 1
 CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Innovation Concept
3. Innovation intermediaries ( TISCS, Innovative Cluster ,
Hubs , Business Incubation Centers etc
4. Innovation funding and Monitoring
5. IoT hands-on support to Tanzania Technology hubs
6. Take away message
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 INTRODUCTION

COSTECH GENERAL OVERVIEW

Mandate:
Established by a COSTECH Act of 1986 as Principal advisory organ of
the government on the use of Science and Technology for National
development

The Commission is under the Ministry of Education, Science and

Technology
Functions:
1.Promotion and coordination of research,
2.Support technology development and transfer,
3.Popularization of STI in society,
4.Foster regional & international cooperation. 3
…COSTECH GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Resesearch
• Innovation,
Promotion
Technology
and
development
coordination
& transfer
DRCP DCDTT

DG
DCS DKM
• Human • Communication
resources & , ICT & e-
Financial resources
Management 4
 INNOVATION CONCEPT

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 Innovation concept
Technological innovations are defined as new products and processes
and major technological modifications to products and processes.

An innovation is considered performed if it is introduced to the market

(product innovation) or implemented in the production process (process
innovation).

Innovation includes many research, technological, organizational,

financial and commercial activities
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 Technology Innovation VS Social Innovation

Technological Innovation – based on specific technology,

invention, Discovery,

Social innovations – in critical historic periods more

important than technological ones (mail, educational
systém, social systém, health care, …)

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 Degree of Novelty

Incremental innovations

Radical innovations

Systemic innovations

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 TISCS NETWORK

§ TISCs is a platform to provide solid foundations of knowledge

related to the transfer and adoption of appropriate technologies,
legal and regulatory framework while nurturing the local innovation
potential.

§ TISCs engage Academia and R&D institutions in the economic

activities through the utilization of research outputs and
technologies in all economic sectors.

§ TISCs supports innovators and inventors on scientific and

technological aspects on translating technology and innovation
inputs into products, processes, and services.
9
…TISCS Network in URT

1
2014 Initiated URT TISC program

2015 2
Formally signed MOU

3
2022
58 TISCs in URT

10
 Innovative clusters

Cluster is defined as co-location of partners, services providers,

educational and research institution related through linkages of
different types.

Europe Innova, 2007

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 Triple Helix Model

Government

Academia Private Sector

& R&Ds Industry
 Triple Helix Model

Academia: Provide the appropriate technology services

Private Sector/Industry: Identify the market needs

Manage innovative projects

The Government (Ministries, agencies ..): Stimulate the process to

boost the economy by providing incentives (for Scientists and for
Industry)and funding ( seed money)
 Triple Helix Model
Academia

• research priorities set by investigator

• grant-seeking
• publications
• transfer at early stage
 Triple Helix Model
Industry

• research priorities set by management

• profit-seeking
• proprietary
• control
• add value before transferring
 Innovative Clusters Initiative

4th Batch 5th Batch

(2013-15) (2017 - 2020)
2006 – 2015 26 CI 15 CI
Formalization 3rd Batch
67 clusters -2012
23 CI 2017 – 2022
2nd Batch Systemic
2013-15 Documentation
26 CI
Pilot-2006
8 CI Guidelines

10/7/2021 1
6
 Distribution of Supported clusters

15 Cluster 2
Sectors 10
• Agri value Regions
addition
• Manufacturing

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7
 List of innovative clusters

Cluster Products Affiliated R&D Region

KONGUMO Cloth Cluster Clothes SUA Morogoro
MECI Metal Engineering Machinery, metal items SUA Morogoro
Food Processors Flour, juice, etc. SUA Morogoro
KUNAMO Grain Millers Maize & sorghum flour SUA Morogoro
Zanzibar Sea Weeds ZaSCI) Seaweed products MARINE Unguja
Pemba Fish Farming and MARINE
Dried fish Pemba
Processing
SHIWAMKI Sisal Sisal products SAUTI Shinyanga (Kishapu)
KICHAWAMA Paddy Cluster Rice SAUTI Mwanza (Magu)
Babati Bee Keeping Cluster Honey NM AIST Manyara (Babati)
Umambe cluster Sunflower oil TPRI Manyara (Babati)
SIMUSOPA Sunflower Oil Sunflower oil NM AIST Singida
MTINKO Sunflower Oil Sunflower oil ILONGA Singida
UWAZAMAM Grapes Grape juice UDOM Dodoma
KIWANGO Leather Cluster Tanning, leather products TIRDO Kilimanjaro (Mwanga)
Mbeya Rice Cluster Rice Uyple/MUST Mbeya
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 Approach The Context
• R&D/Univ as a
• Bridge the main source of
gap btn Private Sector knowledge
Industry vs • Structural IPR
Academia dominated
• From market strategies
Demand Innovative • Out bound TT
Oriented to Government cluster
• TTO was only
driven option for
research Innovation
intermediary
Academia • MDGs –
END USER transactional TT

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 Demand Driven Innovation

More than improvements: Demand driven R&D mostly improves

existing technologies or processes. Innovation drives technology
transfer.
Seed money: Public money will be needed to support innovation
driven technology transfer and proof of concept.

Matching responsibilities: Industrial partners should contribute

financially. Matching funds are the most successful way to foster
innovation driven technology transfer.
Fostering Innovations through
Innovation intermediaries
 BUNI HUB OF HUBS

- Buni Hub hub has supported more than 30 innovation

spaces in Tanzania through the following programs;

i. Capacity Building to new innovation spaces

ii. Mentorship to existing innovation spaces
iii. Southern Africa Innovation Collective programs
iv. Hubs Academy
v. Networkings & Linkages
vi. Regional Programs

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 …BUNI HUB OF HUBS

- Buni has supported more than 30000 youth in Tanzania to build

their business,creates employment and access jobs positions
through the following programs;

i. Talent Pool Program

ii. Boost Up Program
iii. Buni Divaz Program
iv. Developers Community (google, andela,wikmedia)
v. Networkings & Linkages
vi. Buni Hub Sprint Events
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 Role of Innovation Space (Hubs)
Innovation Spaces (Hubs) is a term
used to in compass a variety of
innovation intermediaries and
ecosystems builders/enablers.

In the Tanzania Ecosystem, the

Innovation Spaces are the building
blocks connecting
Innovators/Entrepreneurs to the
Stakeholders and Customers.
Accelerators and incubators are
essential to fueling connections and
growth for cutting-edge researchers
and ambitious entrepreneurs.
Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi)
Limited.

• Is a digital based Business Incubator

• Established in 2011 by COSTECH

• To Support the Growth and Commercialization of emerging

digital based startups in Tanzania.
Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi)
Limited.

• Is a digital based Business Incubator

• Established in 2011 by COSTECH

• To Support the Growth and Commercialization of emerging

digital based startups in Tanzania.
 DTBi PROGRAM AND SERVICES

1. Training Programs
2. Coaching and Mentorship Programs
3. Networking and Market Linkages
4. Legal Support
5. Financial Management
 INCUBATION STATUS

More than 45 startup incubated at DTBi since

establishment

Over 10,000 direct and indirect employments created

13 currently supported incubatees providing over 16

direct employment opportunities
 Magila Technologies Limited
• Joined DTBi while a 2nd year student in
Accounting at IFM. Has graduated & is
Passionate about Technology.

• Helped to exhibit at Parliament

Grounds, Science Week, DEMO Africa
in Kenya

• DTBi linked the start-up to TiGO through

MoU for Project Digitize

• With TCRA supported to exhibit at ITU

in Dubai & Thailand
 …SUCCESS STORIES

NYIRENDA’S COMPANY:

Producing Pre-Paid Water Meter for

RUWASA (Currently on a Piloting
Stage)
• Employment Created (Both Direct n
Indirect): 8
• Fund Raised: More than TZS 300m
for Piloting and Upscaling
• Client : RUWASA
 Sensor Tanzania
(Bee Venom Sensor Harvesting Machine)

• Joined DTBi as Virtual incubatee in

2021

• Developed the bee venom sensor

machine that helps bee keepers in
harvesting bee venom for healthy
purposes.

• DTBi supported the innovator to

patent the innovation
 Ujuzinet EduTech Company
(MazaoHub)

UjuziNet outstand as an
agribusiness company that
developed MazaoHub which is a
comprehensive Farm Management
platform connecting farmers, Agro
dealers, agronomists, Warehouse,
Logistics and stakeholders while
automating their operations to run
best.
Shuleyetu.com is a digital education
platform created a room of partnership
between parents and teachers in
nurturing their children with a top
desire to narrow the education gap in
Africa by improving the quality of
education of boys and girls living in
vulnerable backgrounds.
 Innovation Support Funding and
Monitoring

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 Innovation Funding and Monitoring

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 HUBiquitous Project

HUBiquitous aims at creating a joint Africa-Europe Tech & startup Ecosystem for long-term
collaborations and partnerships
Supporting IoT technical capacity, services and application development for Africa DIHs
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 Digitalization and scale-up IoT
hands-on support to Tanzania Tech
hubs
African IoT needs HUBiquitous innovation enablers

• Lack of hands-on skills and competences on

disruptive technologies
• Availability and logistic of the IoT and AI Hardware
• Lack of access to development & testing
infrastructure for those disruptive technologies
Application business box
• Lack of ready-to-use application and business
development kits integrating technology
• Lack of training and business support services.
Accessibility
African DIH needs
of IoT innovation to Tanzania DIHs
• DIHs in Tanzania are struggling for sustainability,
• Why ? lack of digital capacity and new technology-
based services which require an infrastructure for
testing, validation and beta deployment
Hubs capacity building & ecosystem
• Ensuring a wider accessibility and availability
of the enablers and programs to local
Tanzania communities
• Enabling DIHs with new technology services
and business models
• Transforming Tanzania DIHs to next-
generation competence centre
• Engaging 5 DIHs in Tanzania to pilot solution
lab
 MeetHub

Online IoT Learning Center Skills development

Online platform for learning by doing

Solution development

Testing and experiments

Trainers Business development

@ DIHs Talent Accelerator
Physical Solution Lab Program Program
Lightweight Physical IOT infrastructure
 HUBs Capacity building

● Prepare partnership agreement with HUBs

● 4 solution lab packages are deployed in
Tanzania hubs

HUBs capacity building: “Train the Trainers” Access to learning center and solution lab
curriculum and training (12 TTT trained) physical resources
 Ecosystem handbook

• The handbook provides a better understanding of the African Innovation Ecosystem in digital
Technologies and the available opportunities.

• It provides information that is necessary for building networks that leverages the collaboration
between African and European startups, innovation hubs, innovation networks, entrepreneurs and
other interested actors.

CHAPTER ONE: INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS OVERVIEW

CHAPTER TWO: INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS IN AFRICA
CHAPTER THREE: DIGITAL INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
CHAPTER FOUR: THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE AFRICAN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
CHAPTER FIVE: AFRICAN- EUROPE INNOVATION COLLABORATION
 Take way Message
The MoEST through COSTECH promotes Integrated National
Innovation and Technology Transfer System that:

• Strengthening Tanzania Innovation Ecosystems

• Sustain financial support to innovation enablers and innovators

• Leverage linkage and recommend innovators to government

agencies, development partners and other potential partners

• Ensure availability and accessibility of innovation infrastructures

such as solution labs for quick prototyping.
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