Sh4bn awarded to research institutes

Dar es Salaam. The government has awarded a total of Sh4.1 billion to eight institutions for the support of research infrastructures.

The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Joyce Ndalichako issued the cheques to the institutions and stressed that it was tax payers’ money and should be used for the purpose intended.

The decision by the government intends to support its industrialization drive.

She said the government has decided to support research in the country with the help from donor funding including HIDF and Sida in order to realize it’s ambition of becoming an industrialized country.

“This ceremony is to award research winners grants that aim to conduct research that will improve our economy,” she said.

According to her, there are various projects including the completion of the Mabibo pharmaceutical production factory and Rand D laboratory.

She named the other project as the strengthening of the research infrastructure in drug discovery design and development.

She explained that the project will contribute towards the discovery and production of drugs and reduce dependency on generic products.

Other projects include upgrading of veterinary vaccine quality control laboratory at Tanzania Vaccine Institute in Kibaha, modernizing soil science laboratory to ensure soil health for sustainable agricultural intensification for industrialization in Tanzania.

She other project is the uografong and accreditation of laboratory for supporting agro processing sector in Tanzania.

Meanwhile, Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology(Costech) acting director general, Dr Amos Mungu called on the government to disburse timely funding for research to enable research to be conducted at the required time frame.

He said, the awarded research institutes passed the test among 155 proposals that were submitted