National ICT Research Capacity and Priorities for Cooperation - Republic Of Tanzania

In 2015/16 the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) produced the National Research Priorities for Tanzania to serve the research sector for five years i.e. (2015 - 2020). During the course of its implementation, the Commission realized that the document has some gaps that need to be filled based on the current trend of industrialization agenda. COSTECH is in the process of revisiting and updating the National Research Priorities for Tanzania 2015 - 2020. The revision features the importance of research and innovation in the industrialization policy and strategies in Tanzania. It incorporated comments from COSTECH stakeholders including heads of Higher Learning Institutions, Research & Development institutions and researchers. The validation workshop was held on 20th December 2018. Currently, the secretariat is working on the comments before the document could be forwarded to the approval authorities.

National Priorities

National Priorities include: eInfrastructures, Cloud Computing/ High Performance Computing, Cyber Security, Mobile Computing, ICT for Creativity and Learning, eHealth and eAgriculture.

- Cyber Security - To create a secure and safe cyber space for economic development. Institutions involved include: Institute of Financial Management, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, State University of Zanzibar

- High Performance Computing / Cloud Computing - To improved industrial development and service delivery (data analysis, business intelligence, data mining and warehousing). Institutions involved include: Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology

- Mobile Computing and Mobile Apps - To support job creation and government service delivery. Institutions involved include: University of Dar es Salaam, University of Dodoma, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Institute of Financial Management, State University of Zanzibar

- ICT for Creativity and Learning - Life long learning and the creation of a knowledge society and knowledge economy. Institutions involved include: University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Institute of Financial Management, Open University

National Research Capacity

Based on a consultation process, the following Universities and research centres in Tanzania undertaking ICT-related initiatives have identified their areas of research expertise and track record. A summary of these findings are provided below:

University of Dar es Salaam

- Depts include: School of Informatics and Communication Technologies , College of Engineering , University Computing Centre

- Research focus includes: Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Technology-enhanced Learning , Mobile Computing, Cyber Security

University of Dodoma

- Depts include: School of Informatics

- Research focus includes: Informatics and Technology-enhanced Learning, Mobile Computing, Advanced Computing, Future Internet

Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology

- Depts include: Centre for ICT Excellence

- Research focus includes: High Performance Computing, Cyber Security, Mobile Computing, Technology-enhanced Learning, Future Internet

Institute of Financial Management

- Depts include: Computer Science, Information Technology, Centre for ICT Research and Innovations

- Research focus includes: Mobile Computing, Information Systems Security and Forensics, Technology-enhanced Learning

Nelson-Mandela Institution of Science and Technology

- Depts include: School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE) (Masters and PhDs) - Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS), Information Technology Development and Management (ITDM), Communication Science and Engineering (CoSE)

- Research focus includes: Energy, ICT, Environment and Water, Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering

Muslim University of Morogoro

- Depts include: Information Technology

- Research focus includes: Data mining, Machine Learning, Pattern recognition, Technology-enhanced Learning

University of Bagamoyo

- Depts include: ICT & Geo Informatics

- Research focus includes: Technology-enhanced Learning, eGovernment, eAgriculture, Cyber Law and Cyber Security

Ardhi University

- Depts include: Centre for Information and Communication Technology

Open University of Tanzania

- Research focus includes: Environmental Issues; Agriculture & Food Security, Technology-enhanced Learning, ICT, Cyber Security, Health

Ifakara Health Institute

- Research focus includes: Health Sciences, eHealth, Health Information Systems

Muhimbili University of Health Sciences

- Research focus includes: Health Sciences, Health Informatics, Technology-enhanced Learning in the Health domain

Sokoine University of Agriculture

- Research focus include: eAgriculture, Food Security, eHealth, Data mining, Technology-enhanced learning

Mbeya University of Science and Technology

- Depts include: College of Engineering and Technology (CET), College of Science and Technical Education (CoSTE), Institute of Science and Technology (IST), School of Humanities and Business Studies (SHBS).

- Research focus include: Technology/Applied Science, Climate Change and Environmental Issues, Food Production and Security, Business - Economics and Education

St John's University of Tanzania

- Faculties include: Humanities and Education, Commerce and Business Studies, and Natural and Applied Sciences), three Schools (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nursing, and Theology and Religious Studies), one Institute (Development Studies) and one Centre (Information and Communication Technology).

- Research focus includes: E-Learning and Impact of Information Technology (IT) in higher learning Institutions

ICT-39 Priority Themes

Based on consultation with stakeholders and additional information collected during the IST-Africa Horizon 2020 Training Workshop in November 2016 the following thematic areas are considered to be important in the context of the ICT-39 Call:

Thematic Areas Partners include
eHealth Ifakara Health Institute; Muhimbili University of Health Sciences; Sokoine University of Agriculture; Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
eAgriculture Sokoine University of Agriculture; Agriculture Research Institute, Mbeya University of Science and Technology
Energy Ardhi University (Departments of Geo Informatics, Geospatial Sciences, Environment Sciences, School of Geospatial Sciences & Tech-Gi&Gim); Nelson Mandela African University (NMIST) Arusha, Mbeya University of Science and Technology

Mapping to H2020 Themes

The mapping to Horizon 2020 Research areas is summarised below:

Horizon 2020 Industrial Leadership Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area
Advanced Computing Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology: High Performance Computing; University of Dodoma
Future Internet University of Dodoma ; Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
Content Technologies & Information Management University of Dar es Salaam: Technology-enhanced Learning; Institute of Financial Management: Technology-enhanced Learning; Open University: Technology-enhanced Learning; Muslim University of Morogoro : Data mining, Machine Learning, Pattern recognition, Technology-enhanced Learning; Sokoine University of Agriculture: Data mining, Machine Learning, Technology-enhanced Learning; University of Bagamoyo: Technology-enhanced Learning, eGovernment, eAgriculture, Cyber Law and Cyber Security; Nelson Mandela University Arusha

Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges Institution, Relevant Dept and Research area
Health Ifakara Health Institute: Health Sciences, eHealth, Health Information Systems; Muhimbili University of Health Sciences: Health Sciences, Health Informatics; Sokoine University of Agriculture: eHealth; Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture Sokoine University of Agriculture: Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security; Open University: Agriculture and Food Security; Mbeya University of Science and Technology: Food Production and Food Security
Energy Ardhi University; Nelson Mandela Insitute of Science and Technology
Transport Ardhi UniversityNational Institute of Transport
Ardhi University
National Institute of Transport
Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Open University: Environmental Issues; Mbeya University of Science and Technology: Climate Changes and Environmental Issues
Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies University of Bagamoyo: eGovernment
Secure Societies Institute of Financial Management (Centre for ICT Research and Innovation): Information Systems Security and Forensics; Open University: Cyber Security; Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology: Cyber Security; University of Bagamoyo: Cyber Law and Cyber Security; University of Dodoma

Level of Research Maturity

Tanzania has good research capacity and a track record of collaborative research having participated in 40 projects and securing research funding of over €12 million under FP7.

Up to September 2018 Tanzania has been involved in 17 Horizon 2020 projects with research funding of over €5 million across a range of thematic areas:

- ENV, H2020-SC5-2014-two-stage- AfricanBioServices (RIA) - Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute; University of Dodoma; University of Dar Es Salaam

- INFRA, H2020-INFRASUPP-2014-2 - Sci-GaIA (CSA) - Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology

- H2020-PHC-2015-single-stage_RTD - EHVA (RIA) - National Institute for Medical Research

- H2020-WATER-2015-two-stage - VicInAqua (RIA) - Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organisation; FLOWERED (RIA) - Oikos East Africa; The Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology

- H2020-ICT-2016-INT - IST-Africa 2016-2018 (CSA) - Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology

- H2020-SC1-2016-RTD - SURG-Africa (RIA) - East Central and Southern Africa Health Community

- H2020-MSCA-RISE-2014 - IMIXSED (MSCA-RISE) - The Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology

- H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 - ACTUS (MSCA-IF-GF) - Ardhi University

- H2020-SFS-2016-2 - InnovAfrica (RIA) - Sokoine University of Agriculture

- H2020-JTI-IMI2-2015-08-single-stage - PEVIA (IMI2-RIA) - Ifakara Health Institute Trust

- H2020-NMBP-X-KET-2017 - PITBUL ( RIA) - Dodoma Region

- H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017 - ANTHUSIA (MSCA-ITN-EJD) - National Institute of Medical Research

- H2020-ICT-2017-1 (ICT-39-2017) - EPICA (IA) - The Open University of Tanzania; WAZIHUB (IA) - Dar Teknohama Business Incubator Limited

- H2020-SC1-2017-Single-Stage-RTD - UPSIDES (RIA) - Ifakara Health Institute Trust

- H2020-SC5-2017-OneStageB - MONOCLE (RIA) - Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute

There is a strong policy focus (driven by COSTECH, MoEST and TCRA) on further strengthening the research capacity within the country, increasing the focus of research activities on their contribution to socio-economic impact, and facilitating the continued development of post-graduate programmes.

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) conveys an annual meeting to discuss STI indicators to determine current research being undertaken. Research Capacity is validated based on Number of Publications, Researchers, and the productions that are known locally or internationally.