The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) is a parastatal organization affiliated with the government of Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

. It was created by an act of the Parliament of Tanzania

National Assembly of Tanzania

The National Assembly of Tanzania and the President of the United Republic make up the Parliament of Tanzania. The current Speaker of the National Assembly is Hon. Anna Makinda, who presides over an assembly of 357 members.- History :...

 in 1986 as a successor to the Tanzania National Scientific Research Council. The Commission is a subsidiary institution to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, of Tanzania

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology is a government ministry charged with the establishment and maintenance of higher education, science and technology in Tanzania...

. Main offices

Office

An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...

 are located in Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...

.

The function of COSTECH is that of "co-ordinating and promoting research

Research

Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...

 and technology

Technology

Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...

 development activities in the country." Government-funded science activity in the country is governed by the commission, and duties include the administration of research grants, maintenance of research registry and science information services, setting research policy and creating incentive for invention and innovation. Areas of activity include the internet, biotechnology

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

, energy

Energy

In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...

, telecommunications, the development of multimedia teaching material

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

 and more.

Organization and operations

COSTECH works with corporations, universities and other parastatals including the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization and the Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation.

Affiliated organizations

Institutions affiliated with COSTECH include:


Industrial Research

• Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation (TIRDO)
• Tanzania Engineering Manufacturing and Design Organisation (TEMDO)
• Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)
• Building Research Unit (BRU)
• National Construction Council (NCC)
• Tanzania Industrial Studies and Consulting Organisation (TISCO)
• Tanzania Automotive Technology Centre (TATC)
• Institute of Production Innovation of the University of Dar es Salaam (IPI)

Health and Medical Research

• National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)

Food and Agricultural Research

• Centre for Agriculture Mechanisation and Rural Technology(CAMARTEC)
• Tropical Pesticides and Research Institute (TPRI)
• Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC)
• Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI)

Natural Resources Research

• Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI)
• Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI)

Energy Research

• Tanzania National Radiation Commission (NRC)

Social Sciences Research

• National Social Welfare and Training Institute

Environmental Research

• National Environmental Management Council

External links

• Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology