Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization OVERVIEW OF TIRDO R&D ACTIVITIES AND AREAS FOR COLLABORATION Dr. F. Busongo Nairobi, 27 th June 2013

INTRODUCTION The Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO) is a multi-disciplinary research and development organization established by an Act of Parliament No. 5 of 1979 and it became operational on 1st April, TIRDO is a semi autonomous organization under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The core functions of the organization are: To carry out, and promote the carrying out of applied research designed to facilitate the evaluation, development and use of local materials in industrial processes. To carry out research in various aspects of local and foreign industrial techniques and technologies and evaluate their suitability for adaptation and alternative use in local industrial production. To advise the Government and firms engaged in industrial production on the adoption and adaptation of technologies in industrial production. To provide to the firms engaged in industrial production advisory technical services relating to the establishment of systems for the control and regulation of industrial processes so as to improve performance and to avert or minimize the sources of industrial pollution.

TIRDO VISION High quality, environmentally friendly and demand- driven research institution with outputs resulting to competitive Industry. TIRDO MISSION To conduct research, development and technical services on industrial processes and products, while utilizing local materials in partnership with Industries

DEPARTMENTS Industrial Research  Food & biotechnology division  Industrial Chemistry and Agro-processing division  Environment and Occupational Safety division Engineering Development  Materials Science and Technology division  Textile and Leather division  Energy division Information, Communication Technologies and Technology Transfer  ICT division  Instrumentation division  Technology Transfer division

AVAILABLE TECHNICAL CAPACITY AT TIRDO The technical capacity at TIRDO is built on physical laboratories with facilities/equipment which are in good physical condition. The organization continues to acquire more equipment and instruments which can effectively be used to conduct applied research, develop technologies and provide industrial technical support services.

AVAILABLE TECHNICAL CAPACITY AT TIRDO-Cont. LABORATORIES Food and Microbiology Laboratory. Energy, Environment and Occupational Safety Laboratory. Agro Technology and Industrial Chemistry Laboratory. Materials Testing Laboratory/Non destructive testing (NDT)Laboratory

AVAILABLE TECHNICAL CAPACITY AT TIRDO –Cont. The Food and Microbiology Laboratory is the only Accredited Laboratory at TIRDO since 2009 through the South African National Accreditation Systems (SANAS). Efforts are underway to accredit the Energy, Environment and Occupational safety Laboratory; Materials Testing laboratory and the Agro technology and Industrial Chemistry Laboratory.

HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY TIRDO has 80 workers of which 45 are scientists, engineers and technicians and the rest consists of administrative personnel.

AREAS FOR R&D COLLABORATION Despite the limited capability in doing R&D activities the organization has earmarked the following priority research areas for collaboration with other EAC research institutions. These areas include the following: Textile and leather processing technologies Agro-processing technologies Coal, Iron and Steel technologies Gas and Petrochemical technologies Value addition on natural products

……..AREAS FOR R&D COLLABORATION Value addition to industrial and municipal wastes Application of nanotechnologies for waste water management Non destructive testing (NDT) of metals and non- metallic materials.

RATIONALE The proposed collaborative research areas are aligned with the Integrated Industrial Development Strategy and Master Plan (IIDS& MP) 2025 that was developed to implement the objectives of the Sustainable Industrial Development Policy (SIDP) and realize the targets stipulated by Tanzania Development Vision (TDV) The TDV 2025 is being implemented by the Five Year Development Plans (FYDP).

Value addition on leather solid wastes to produce leather boards The project aims at value addition on leather solid wastes to produce different types of leather boards and transfer the technology of making leather boards to leather stakeholders and SMEs. Universities, Innovation and Inclusive Development in Africa (UNIID-Africa) The objective is to investigate the nature and functioning of knowledge intensive innovation networks that involve universities and external social partners in two contextually important sectors, namely, informal natural resource based activities and the provision of community health services in the participating countries. ONGOING R&D PROJECTS

…….ONGOING R&D PROJECTS Improvement and the use of appropriate drying technologies using tunnel solar dryer to ensure high quality cassava products in rural areas The objective is to improve income and welfare of cassava producers through transfer of appropriate processing technology to SM Es Accreditation of the Food Microbiology, Environmental, Chemistry and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Laboratories

…….ONGOING R&D PROJECTS Utilization of ICT for Enhanced Business Export Support for Food and Agro-processing SMEs Production of high-strength concrete reinforcing steel bars

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