The launch of the MAKISATU Catalogue has been described as a major step towards improving the identification, visibility and commercialisation of research and innovation outputs in Tanzania, as the government intensifies efforts to drive economic transformation through science and technology.
Speaking on Monday, February 23, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Hussein Mohamed Omar, said the catalogue will serve as a practical tool for identifying research work, expanding collaboration and attracting investment aimed at commercialising innovations and linking them to the market.
Dr Omar said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader agenda of transforming Tanzania’s economy from lower-middle income to upper-middle income status, noting that effective use of research, innovation and human capital development is critical to the realisation of the National Development Vision 2050.
He explained that the first MAKISATU Innovation Catalogue has been launched to bring researchers and scientists together on a single platform, enabling them to showcase research findings, innovative products and services, and connect them with end-users.
The approach, he said, is expected to ensure that research outcomes translate into practical solutions that benefit Tanzanians and the wider market.
Dr Omar further emphasised the importance of strengthening the education sector while advancing strategic areas such as agriculture through innovation.
He said adding value along agricultural value chains, including commercial crops such as cotton, would help protect farmers from fluctuations in global markets and reduce post-harvest losses that often lead to wastage and income instability.
The Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Amos Nungu, said the platform will open new avenues for collaboration while easing the journey of innovations from the laboratory to the market.
He added that the catalogue will also enhance the value of innovative products and services by making them more accessible to potential investors and users.
Meanwhile, Ronald Tran Ba Huy said the inclusion of innovations in the catalogue is expected to widen opportunities for commercial partnerships, investment and the scaling up of sustainable solutions that respond to societal challenges.
The leaders jointly urged young researchers and innovators to take advantage of the opportunities created by the catalogue.
Innovator Elina Maseta shared a brief testimony on her experience in producing fortified biscuits using locally sourced raw materials to address iron deficiency among children, while strengthening agricultural value chains.
The MAKISATU Catalogue is expected to bridge the long-standing gap between research, innovation and the market, positioning locally developed solutions as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.