The government has intensified efforts to strengthen industrial research and innovation through the expansion and modernization of laboratories under the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO), in a move aimed at boosting the country’s industrial transformation agenda.
Presenting the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s 2026/2027 budget in Dodoma, Minister for Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said the improvements are intended to enhance scientific services, improve product quality and support the growth of local industries.
Kapinga said TIRDO’s food laboratory, which received accreditation in 2025, has been further upgraded during the 2025/2026 financial year by expanding its services from three to six. The laboratory has also widened the range of products it can test and analyze.
She noted that the expansion is expected to improve efficiency in industrial product testing, strengthen compliance with quality standards and increase the competitiveness of Tanzanian-made products in both domestic and international markets.
“The government continues to invest in scientific research and technology to strengthen industrial development and add value to locally produced goods,” Kapinga told Parliament.
In another major step, the minister said preparations are underway for the establishment of an Energy and Minerals Laboratory in Njombe Region.
The facility is expected to support research and industrial activities in resource-rich areas, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.
The planned laboratory is also expected to bring research services closer to industries operating outside major cities, helping manufacturers and investors access reliable scientific testing and technical support more efficiently.
The latest investments in TIRDO reflect the government’s broader strategy of building a stronger industrial economy driven by innovation, research and technology, while improving the quality and market competitiveness of Tanzanian products.
