Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology

What Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology does

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) is a statutory government body of the United Republic of Tanzania, established under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to coordinate national science, technology and innovation (STI) policy and programs. It serves as the mandated focal point for researchers, universities, government research institutes (TAFIRI, TARI, TAWIRI, NIMR, UDSM), and international development partners, administering research permits and clearances, channelizing international funding opportunities (Wellcome, SGCI, EDCTP, ICGEB, Horizon Europe), and producing official R&D statistics.

COSTECH's core product portfolio centers on three interconnected platforms: NISSTI, the National Information System for Science, Technology and Innovation launched July 2, 2026 as a unified national platform for researcher registration, STI statistics, and stakeholder coordination; HERIN, a dedicated higher-education research network providing specialized internet connectivity to member institutions; and the Research Permit/Clearance System, an online portal for processing permits for domestic and international researchers. Supporting digital services include the e-Library, STI Repository, R&D Statistics Portal, audited-reports library, Funding Opportunities Portal, and eGA government integration. Through its Centre for Technology Transfer and Development (CDTT), COSTECH also pilots applied technologies such as the Babati Black Soldier Fly waste-processing facility.

COSTECH is funded primarily through Tanzanian government budgetary allocations under MoEST, with a marginal secondary stream of one-time research permit fees. It does not operate a commercial pricing model; products are distributed through institutional mandates and direct-to-enterprise channels rather than market-driven sales. Marketing and stakeholder engagement run through official website news, Swahili/English media, workshops, and the NISSTI portal. A basic text-based STI Assistant chatbot powered by third-party Rafiki AI provides conversational Q&A on STI topics.

Name

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology

Legal name

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology

Website

https://costech.or.tz

Company type

Public

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

COSTECH is Tanzania's statutory government commission that coordinates national science, technology and innovation policy, issues research permits, runs the NISSTI platform and HERIN research network, and channels international research funding to universities and government research institutes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Science, Technology and Innovation Coordination

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

Keywords

• National STI coordination
• Research permit services
• R&D statistics platform
• Technology transfer programs
• Research network connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar Es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: COSTECH is a government parastatal organization funded through government budgetary allocations for implementing national science, technology and innovation policies and programs
2. Research Permit Fees: Fees collected for processing research permits and clearances for domestic and international researchers conducting studies in Tanzania

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

COSTECH is Tanzania's statutory national commission that coordinates science, technology and innovation activities across the country. It issues research permits and clearances, operates the NISSTI information platform and HERIN research network, administers international R&D funding opportunities, runs the CDTT technology transfer centre (including Black Soldier Fly waste processing), and supports evidence-based STI policymaking for government, universities and research institutes.

Product overview

COSTECH operates as a technology commission offering a unified portfolio of interconnected platforms and services for Tanzania's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem. The core products include NISSTI (national STI information platform), HERIN (research network connectivity), and the Research Permit/Clearance Systems. These are complemented by supporting services such as the R&D Statistics Portal, e-Library, STI Repository, and Audited Reports. The commission also provides access to international funding opportunities and integrates with government systems through eGA. The organization focuses on coordinating STI stakeholders, managing innovation, and facilitating research and development across Tanzania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NISSTI (National Information System for Science, Technology and Innovation) National platform that strengthens the use of scientific evidence in policy-making, coordinates research, manages innovation, and connects STI stakeholders across Tanzania for government, researchers, innovators and institutions.
• HERIN (Higher Education and Research Network) Research and education network connectivity service that provides dedicated internet services for higher education and research institutions in Tanzania, supporting regional and rural institutions.
• Research Permit and Clearance System Online portal for processing and managing research permits and clearance certificates for domestic and international researchers conducting studies in Tanzania.
• e-Library Electronic library resource providing access to scientific publications, research materials and digital resources for Tanzanian researchers, students and institutions.
• STI Repository Digital repository for storing and accessing STI-related publications, research outputs, and knowledge resources for researchers and the public.
• R&D Statistics Portal Portal providing research and development statistics and information for Tanzania's STI landscape, supporting evidence-based policy-making.
• Black Soldier Fly Waste Processing Technology (Babati Facility) BSF-based waste processing technology operated by COSTECH's Centre for Technology Transfer and Development (CDTT) that converts organic waste into protein-rich animal feed and organic fertilizer; the Babati facility handles approximately 85 tons of waste daily.

Quantifiable outcome

• NISSTI launched July 2, 2026 to improve evidence-based policymaking and STI coordination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ireland (Government of)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Bilateral agreement signed between Tanzania and Ireland for collaboration in higher education, announced March 26, 2026.
• Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-country initiative strengthening capacities of science funding agencies across 17 sub-Saharan African countries. COSTECH participates as a member council, benefiting from regional collaboration, peer learning, and collective action to drive STI research addressing national priorities.
• European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded partnership between institutions in 15 European and 31 African countries focused on fighting poverty-related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Supports capacity building and cross-border research collaboration.
• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergovernmental organization aligned with the UN system providing research, training and technology transfer. ICGEB offers labs on three continents (Trieste, Italy; New Delhi, India; Cape Town, South Africa) and supports scientific events and research collaboration in member states including Tanzania.
• University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier university and key stakeholder in Tanzania's STI ecosystem, partnering with COSTECH on research coordination and innovation support.
• Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ministry overseeing COSTECH operations and STI policy formulation in Tanzania.
• National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research institute conducting medical research, participating in COSTECH's national STI coordination framework.
• Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agricultural research institute, part of the COSTECH STI coordination ecosystem.
• Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFisheries research institute participating in national STI coordination under COSTECH.
• Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife research institute part of COSTECH's national STI research coordination network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST): Uganda's statutory body coordinating science, technology, and innovation with nearly identical functions to COSTECH, including research clearance, policy coordination, and promotion of R&D.
• National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa: South Africa's national research funding agency with a comparable mandate to support, promote, and coordinate scientific research and innovation. Closest functional analogue to COSTECH's role as a national STI commission.
• Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI): Kenya's statutory commission mandated to regulate, coordinate, and promote science, technology, and innovation. Operates comparable national platforms and research permitting functions.

Regional players

• Malawi National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST): Malawi's statutory national commission with parallel responsibilities for STI policy coordination, research permits, and technology transfer in a similar developing-country context.
• Rwanda National Council for Science and Technology: Rwanda's national STI coordinating body with a similar regulatory and funding facilitation mandate; comparable scale and structure as a peer East African commission.

Others

• European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP): EU-funded partnership supporting clinical research in sub-Saharan Africa across 15 European and 31 African countries. COSTECH is a strategic African partner within this network.
• International Science Council (ISC): Global umbrella organization promoting science as a global public good. Indirectly comparable as the highest-level body shaping national STI council coordination worldwide.
• Wellcome Trust: Major global charitable foundation (est. 1936) that COSTECH channels funding opportunities from. A core financial partner rather than a direct competitor, but an enabling actor in COSTECH's ecosystem.
• Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI): Multi-country initiative of which COSTECH is a member council. SGCI strengthens STI funding agencies across 17 sub-Saharan African countries, providing the regional collaboration framework COSTECH leverages.

Broad incumbents

• African Academy of Sciences (AAS): Pan-African science organization supporting excellence in science and technology across the continent. A broader incumbent with overlapping functions in research funding, policy, and coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/costechTANZANIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/costechTanzania
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/costech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology