STIPRO Yaandaa Semina Kwa Ajili Ya Kamati Ya Bunge Ya Wizara Ya Elimu Sayansi Na Teknolojia

Katika kuleta tija zaidi kwenye utengenezaji wa sera zihusuzo sayansi teknologia na ubunifu, STIPRO iliandaa semina fupi kwa kamati ya bunge inayojihusisha na wizara ya elimu, sayansi na teknolojia. Semina hii ilifanyika mjini Dodoma mnamo tarehe 27 mwezi wanne katika moja ya kumbi za bunge. Semina hii iliongelea zaidi uhusiano uliopo kati ya sayansi, teknologia na ubunifu kwa ajili ya utengenezaji mzuri wa sera. Mambo Muhimu ya kuelewa kuhusu ubunifu ili kutengeneza sera nzuri itakayochochea ubunifu na ukuwaji wa uchumi wenye kuondoa umaskini Duniani kote imekubalika kuwa ubunifu – hasa katika karne hii ya soko huria – si tu ni jambo muhimu, bali la lazima kwa ajili ya ushindani, kukuza uchumi na kuondoa umaskini. Ubunifu hukuza sekta binafsi na kuongeza ajira – hasa ikiwa ni sekta yenye uwezo wa kutengeneza ajira nyingi kama ile ya viwandaa. Ubunifu huziwezesha makampuni kuzalisha bidhaa bora na kwa gharama nafuu, hivyo huweza kuhimili ushindani. Sekta binafsi inayokuwa vizuri huongeza pato la taifa kwa njia ya kodi zinazolipwa na makampuni hayo; pato la mtu mmoja mmoja pia huongezeka kupitia ajira toka makampuni hayo. Katika ulimwengu wa utandawazi na soko huria, ambapo makampuni ya nje yanaweza kuuza bidhaa zao katika soko la ndani ya nchi yoyote duniani, viwanda vya ndani havitaweza kukuwa bila kuwa bunifu; yaani wao pia wazalishe bidhaa bora na kwa gharama nafuu kuliko zile zinazotoka nje. Na si hiyo tu, bali waweze kuuza nje pia kwa maana jinsi soko linavyokuwa kubwa, ndivyo kampuni hupata faida na kupanuka. Katika nchi tajiri na zenye teknolojia ya juu tayari, nguvu ya soko peke yake – kwa sehemu kubwa – ina uwezo wa kuchochea ubunifu. Lakini nchi maskini na ambazo bado teknolojia ni za chini, zinahitaji nguvu za ziada kutoka kwa serikali kwa njia ya sera. Kazi ya sera (ambayo itafafanuliwa baadaye kidogo), ni kuondoa vikwazo vinavyozuia ubunifu. Ili kuweza kutengeneza sera nzuri ya ubunifu, kuna mambo kadhaa ambayo tunahitaji kuyajua kinaga ubaga  kuhusu ubunifu, na mahusiano yake na sayansi na teknolojia: Kutokueleweka vizuri kwa mahusiano kati ya hivi vitu vitatu; yaani sayansi, teknolojia na ubunifu, kunaonekana kuwa kikwazo kikubwa katika utengenezaji wa sera bora ya ubunifu yenye matokeo mazuri. Hayo mambo ni kama ifuatavyo: Maana halisi ya ubunifu Maana halisi ya ubunifu iko katika upya; ni kitu kipya chenyewe na mchakato wa kukitengeneza. Matumizi yake mapana yanahusu karibu kila kitu kipya, ila hapa tutaongelea ubunifu katika muktadha wa uchumi wa nchi, na hasa katika matummizi ya teknolojia, maana hiyo ndiyo muhimu zaidi katika ukuwaji wa uchumi na kuondoa umaskini. Ubunifu katika muktadha huu – kwa lugha rahisi – ni utengenezaji na uuzaji/usambazaji wa bidhaa mpya, au za zamani zilizoongezwa ubora. Ubunifu (innovation) mara nyingi umechanganywa na neno ugunduzi (invention). Lakini hivi vitu viwili ni tofauti kabisa, japo vinahusiana: wakati ugunduzi ni utengezejai wa kitu kipya, hasa kutokana na matokeo ya utafiti, ubunifu ni kuweza kuweka hicho kitu kipya sokoni na usambazaji wake ili kiweze kutumika. Ieleweke kuwa kwa maana hiyo, ubunifu si kazi ya taasisi za utafiti, bali ya uzalishaji (viwandani na mashambani).  Kwa hiyo kitu chenye manufaa zaidi  katika maisha ya watu si ugunduzi, bali ubunifu. Kutengeneza tu kitu kipya bila kukitumia katika uchumi hakisaidii katika maisha ya watu, na inaweza kuleta athari mbaya, maana ugunduzi hutumia pesa. Mahusiano kati ya sayansi, teknolojia na ubunifu (STI) Mara nyingi katika sera zetu, sayansi, teknolojia na ubunifu (STI) imetumika kama kitu kimoja: utasikia elimu ya STI, bajeti ya STI, nakadhalika, bila kufafanua au hata kutenganisha hivi vitu vitatu. Kiukweli hivi vitu vitatatu, japo vinahusinana sana, ni vitu  tofauti, na vinafanyika katika tassisi tofauti – sayansi na teknolojia viko katika taasisi za utafiti (R&D organizations) na elimu ya juu; wakati ubunifu uko kwa wazalishaji - mashambani, viwandani, na kwingineko. Mara nyingi kwa sababu hivyo vitu havijatenganishwa, na maana halisi na mahusiano kati yao haijaeleweka vizuri, basi huo msaada wote (pesa na elimu) hupelekwa katika tasisi za utafiti na elimu ya juu, na kuwaacha wazalishaji, ambao ndiyo wanagusa maisha yetu moja kwa moja. Hivyo vitu vitatu vinahusiana hivi: kwanza kabisa – kama tulivyokwishasema hapo juu – muhimu katika uchumi na kuondoa umaskini ni ubunifu; sayansi na teknolojia zinazo fanywa katika taasisi za utafiti viko kwa ajili ya kuboresha ubunifu katika uzalishaji. Utafiti wa sayansi una kazi mbili:  1) kugundua na kutengeneza  teknolojia mpya, na 2) kuboresha teknolojia ya zamani ambayo tayari iko katika matumizi viwandani na mashambani. Lakini ili iwe na athari katika maisha yetu, lazima hizo teknolojia mpya na matokeo ya utafiti yatumike katika uzalishaji, ndiyo maana tunaongea sana kuhusu ukaribu na mawasiliano mazuri kati ya taasisi za utafiti na wazalishaji. Pia ieleweka kuwa, si lazima ubunifu utokane na taasisi za utafiti na elimu ya juu – hasa pale unapohusu teknolojia ambayo si ya juu sana – bali  huchochewa pia tu na udadisi na uzoefu wa watu katika uzalishaji. Kihistoria, ubunifu ulikuzwa – kwa kuanzia – si na taasisi za utafiti, bali udadisi na uzoefu wa wazalishaji; kama utafiti ulitumika, basi ilikuwa ni kuboresha teknolojia zilizokuwa zinatumiaka. Jinsi teknolojia zilivyoeendelea kukuwa, ndivyo hivyo zilihitaji sayansi zaidi katika ubunifu, ndiyo maana tunaona kuwa nchi tajiri na zenye kutumia teknolojia ya juu ndizo zenye kuwekeza sana kwenye utafiti (R&D). Mahusiano hayo hajatokana na kuwekeza kwanza kwenye utafiti, na ubunifu wa hali ya juu kufuata, bali kuchochea kwanza ubunifu katika uzalishaji na baada ya ubunifu kukuwa, ukahitaji sayansi ya juu zaidi; na hapo nguvu ya soko hutawala katika kuwekeza kwenye R&D – ukiangalia asilimia zaidi ya 60 ya pesa za utafiti katika nchi tajiri na zenye teknolojia za juu zinatoka kwenye sekta binafsi. Mbunifu hawezi kubuni mwenyewe – ubunifu uko katika mfumo Kama tulivyoona hapo juu, kitovu cha ubunifu ni mzalishaji na si mtafiti - yeye ndiye anayebuni; hata hivyo hawezi kufanya hivyo peke yake; anahitaji wadau wengine kama vile watafiti, wanunuzi wa bidhaa, wanaompatia mali ghafi, washindani wake, taasisi za fedha na mitaji, na mwisho watengeneza sera. Hao humsaidia kupata habari na ujuzi muhimu kwa ajili ya ubunifu. Pamoja na mbunifu kuhitaji hao wote katika kufanikisha ubunifu wake, mlaji (soko) ni mdau muhimu sana – muhimu kuliko wote (matokeo ya tafiti zilizofanyika tokea zamani); bila mahitaji ya soko, ubunifu ni ngumu kutokea. Ndiyo maana nchi tajiri zinatumia manunuzi ya uma (puplic procurement) katikaa kuchochea ubunifu amabao una manufaa kwa uma, lakini nguvu yake ya soko ni dhaifu. Mfano uzalishaji rafiki kwa tabia nchi (mfano renewable energy), madawa ambayo hutumiwa na sehemu ya jamii amabyayo ni maskini, kama vile wazee. Manunuzi ya uma kwa muktadha huu, hayazingatii bei, bali ubora wa bidhaa. Kuchochea ubunifu katika uzalishaji kwa njia ya sera Kwa kifupi na lugha rahisi sera ni mpango wa serikali wa kuondoa vikwazo katika maendeleo ya jamii. Hivyo vikwazo vinawezaa kuwa vya kiuchumi, kijamii nk. Sera ya ubunifu hulenga kuondoa vikwazo katika ubunifu. Mpango huo mara nyingi unakuwa kwenye maandishi na unakuwa na mkakakati wa utekelezaji. Ila mpango ambao hautekelezwi hauwezi kuitwa sera – kwa sababu maana halisi ya sera iko katika utekelezaji wake. Sera mara nyingi hutekelezwa kwa kutumia zana za sera (policy instruments). Ili kujua zana sahihi ya kutumia kutekeleza sera fulani, ni lazima kufahamu visababishi vya vikwazo ambavyo sera hulenga kuondoa. Kwa mfano kuondoa kikwazo cha mawasiliano hafifu kati ya wadau wa ubunifu – kwa mfano watafiti na wazalishaji - ni lazima kujua ni nini kimesababisha huo udhaifu, ndiyo maana tunasisitiza utafiti kwa ajili ya sera. Kwa ujumla aina zifuatazo za zana  hutumika katika kuondoa vikwazo mbalimbali: Sheria Sheria ni zana mojawapo muhimu ya kutekeleza sera. Mfano kuhusu ubunifu, sheria inayoruhusu watafiti binafsi katika taasisi za uma au taasisi zao, kumiliki ugunduzi, huchochea ubunifu kwa wao kutafuta njia za kuweka ugunduzi wao sokoni nakufaidika nazo, kwa mfano kwa njia ya makampuni ya “spin-off” na “incubators”. Pesa Pesa, kwa njia mbali mbali, hutumika na serikali kama kichocheo cha kukuza ubunifu katika sekta binafsi. Mfano serikali inaweza kufadhili tafiti zinazoshirikisha taasisi za tafiti za uma na  wawekezaji binafsi. Hii ni katika kujaribu kuwaunganisha hawa wadau wawili. Pesa pia hutumika kwa njia ya kufadhili ubunifu moja kwa moja; au kutumia nafuu ya kodi kwa wale wazalishaji watakaowekeza katika ubunifu. Habari Serikali pia inaweza kutumia habari kama njia kuu ya kuwezesha ubunifu. Kwa mfano inaweza kusambaza habari kuhusu utafiti ambao una manufaa kwa wabunifu; au kusambaza viwango vya ubora, kitaifa na kimataifa: viwango mara nyingi huchochea ubunifu. Kwa sababu ubunifu ni swala la mfumo, hizi njia zinatakiwa zitumike zaidi ya moja katika mchanganyiko. Hasa ni vizuri kuchanganya zile njia zinazochochea utafiti na zile zinazo wasaidia wabunifu moja kwa moja: kumbuka kuwa ubunifu ndiyo unatakiwa uchochee utafiti.

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A Seminar on Local Content Development and Technological Capability Building in The Oil and Gas Sector

As industrialization has become the main agenda on economic development of Tanzania and in addition to the newly found natural gas deposits - a closer look at how Tanzania, as a country, can fully benefit from the sub-sector through the development of local content- becomes inevitable. In the context of Tanzania, local content development is defined as building a workforce that is skilled and building a local competitive supplier base.. To add to the efforts that the government and other stakeholders are putting in seeing that both are successfully achieved, The Science Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO) will be hosting a seminar on Local Content Development and Technological Capability Building in the Tanzanian Oil and Gas Sector. Research Fellow Mr. Musambya Mutambala at Petroamazonas on the OGE and EE project that deals with energy efficiecy in Ecuador. The seminar will provide lessons for Tanzania based on   evidence gained  from Latin America, specifically Ecuador.  The seminar will be held at the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) Conference Hall on Wednesday, the 15th February 2017, starting from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The forum is one of the activities earmarked in  the Learning into Practice (LEAP) Award that Mr. Musambya Mutambala, a Research Fellow at STIPRO, won. The objective of the LEAP awards is to support and promote the use of lessons and knowledge gained through the Oil and Gas Local Content-Learning Alliance (ELLA) programme. Consequently, Mr. Musambya participated in a study tour to Ecuador under a joint coordination by Grupo Faro of Ecuador and ACODE of Uganda. The seminar will, therefore, provide e a forum to exchange and share knowledge with relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas sector representing government ministries and departments,  the private sector, academia and civil society organizations.

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Roundtable Discussion on Innovation For Sustainable Industrial Development in Tanzania

17th August 2016 | On Tuesday, the 16th of August, 2016 STIPRO held a roundtable discussion at the Tanzanite Conference Hall, Blue Pearl Hotel, Ubungo Plaza, in Dar es Salaam. It was quite a resourceful discussion under the theme titled “Innovation for sustainable industrial development in Tanzania; do we have adequate human capital?. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– A Cross-section of participants for the Round-table discussion workshop

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STIPRO to Hold a Roundtable Discussion on Skills GAP in The Tanzanian Industry

Friday, August 05, 2016 On Tuesday, the 16th of August, 2016 STIPRO will be holding a roundtable discussion at the Tanzanite Conference Hall, Blue Pearl Hotel, Ubungo Plaza, in Dar es Salaam. The theme of the discussion is titled “Innovation for sustainable industrial development in Tanzania; do we have adequate human capital?. As we may all be aware of, Tanzania is currently pursuing the industrialization agenda as one of the most effective way to achieve its development vision – Vision 2025, which envisions that by the year 2025 Tanzania be a semi industrialized and middle income country, with incidences of poverty significantly reduced. Very important in the process of industrialization is the role of innovation and technological capabilities. Innovation puts in the market new products and services, and improves the quality of existing products and services. It also makes production process more efficient. These outcomes of innovation are indispensable for competitiveness - both in the local and export markets. There are a number of factors that facilitate innovative activities both at the firm and national levels in any country. While the major driving factor is having a good national systems of innovation, which will be consisting of a number of actors interacting and learning from each other to effect innovation, there are two major driving forces for innovation at the firm level: demand for innovative goods and services from the society in general on the one hand, and the availability of competent and skilled manpower, on the other hand. Skilled and competent manpower in this case refers to people with capabilities of generating knowledge; people who understand how things work and how ideas or technologies can be improved or applied for industrialization. Although demand and market signals normally take an upper hand in triggering innovation, for innovation to actually happen, there has to be knowledgeable and skilled human power. However, as Tanzania is aggressively pursuing the industrialization agenda, the issues of availability of knowledgeable and skilled manpower seem to be in the dark, bringing to the fore some questions that beg immediate answers. This Roundtable discussion will provide the forum to debate on the current level of availability and adequacy of skilled manpower as well as on the future needs in order to meet the requirements of the envisaged successful and efficient industrial development in Tanzania. It will bring together important stakeholders that include the private sector, training and research institutions as well as the government (policy makers) to brainstorm on this crucial issue of skills gap. It is intended to discuss the roles and contributions of the three major actors: the government in terms of policies and guidance, training and research institutions, and the private sector in the development of adequate and appropriate knowledgeable and skilled manpower for industrial development, and to chart on the way forward.

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Methodology Meeting for Research on South-South and Triangular Cooperation

Starting from 12th to 14th October 2015, The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO) in collaboration with Southern Voice Network Secretariat, Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) and Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is hosting a three day methodology Meeting on South-South and Triangular Cooperation and strategy meeting on the Future of Southern Voice at White Sand Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The Guest of Honor (Pictured right) during a Southern Voice Workshop Eng. Happiness Mgalula (STIPRO) who represented Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Planning Commission delivering the speech. The meeting was organized following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Southern Voice is ready to embark upon the next lap as a network of 49 think tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America, serving as an open platform to make contribution to the international discourse on the SDGs. South-South Cooperation (SSC) is recognized by stakeholders as a potential source of development inputs towards the implementation of the Post-2015 international development agenda. Triangular cooperation (Trc), in which traditional donor countries and multilateral organizations facilitate South-South initiatives has also become a theme of discussion. Speaking during that Workshop, STIPRO Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet noted that the Meeting aimed at discussing study methodology of the research programmes for harnessing the potential of South–South Cooperation in the context of implementing Post 2015 Development Agenda. She further explained that STIPRO andSouthern Voice network decided to bring together Think Tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America to brainstorm on a Strategic Plan on the future of the Southern Voice Network inline with the 2030 development agenda. “STIPRO has been conducting different Research projects on how some Millennium development goals failed in Tanzania compared to other countries. Through this Meeting, we are now in a good position to discuss with other think tanks of the South-South about the areas in the implementation of the post-2015 international development agenda. This can help our research reports to be used by policy makers in our countries and adopt the evidence based decision making system.” - She said. For her part, the Guest of Honor Eng. Happiness Mgalula who represented the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Planning Commission, said Tanzania is at the moment just two weeks after finishing 15 years of pursuing the full implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO) Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet gives the opening remarks. “At this particular juncture, our hearts and minds are still full of memories and lessons we have gained during those past 15 years of implementing the MDGs. She noted adding that she was very optimistic about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and hope for a better future of South countries during the next 15 years. Chairman of the Southern Voice on Post 2015 International Development Goals Professor Debapriya Bhattacharya noted that, the time has come where the South-South should be well represented in the development agenda of the North. “As a chair of of the Southern Voice network, together with my fellow colleagues, we see that there is no way rather than to include the South countries in setting development agenda and goals for their society. This meeting will help us to predict sustainability of our cooperation together with their challenges” - He insisted. Chairman of the Southern Voice on Post-2015 International Development Goals Prof. Debapriya Bhattacharya (First right) takes some notes during a Southern Voice Workshop Dar es Salaam. Looking on are Representative of the Guest of Honor Eng. Happiness Mgalula and STIPRO Executive Director Dr. Bitrina Diyamet A cross-section of the Workshop participants A cross-section of the Workshop participants A group photo of Workshop participants at White sands Hotel - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Detailed information regarding the event can be obtained here: http://southernvoice-postmdg.org/southern-voice-to-explore-second-generation-issues-of-south-south-cooperation/ Click to view more photos of the event: DAY-1 | DAY-3

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