Top universities in Tanzania and Finland are partnering on a project to train experts and develop new ideas in the field of location-based technologies. The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the University of Turku (UTU) are leading the way, with Ardhi University (ARU), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), and others set to join. This project focuses on geospatial ICT, which uses maps, location data, and specialized tools to find solutions in areas like agriculture, urban planning, delivery services, and more. It presents opportunities like mapping apps, tools for land management, and other systems to help physical businesses make smarter decisions.
Tanzania's Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology (MICIT) is updating regulations to support digital sound broadcasting (DSB). This could open new possibilities for reaching wider audiences, especially in densely populated urban areas where the traditional radio spectrum is limited. DSB offers clearer audio and improved coverage (even in areas with physical obstacles) by utilizing communication infrastructure alongside radio frequencies.
Sahara Ventures hosted its monthly meetup, which covered the complexities of leadership for startup founders. Led by workplace culture consultant Ben Owden, the discussion emphasized that modern leadership relies on inspiration and vision rather than authority. Key takeaways for founders and investors include: understanding that leadership includes both process and outcome; prioritizing self-awareness to identify gaps and make informed decisions; and developing a variety of leadership skills, such as leading yourself, others, and even fellow leaders. The importance of strategic thinking, mentorship, and creating a culture of open feedback was stressed. Finally, Ben emphasized that, while strategy is important, character is critical to long-term leadership success.
CRDB Bank and the Zanzibar e-Government Agency (eGAZ) partnered to launch Zanzibar's Smart Nation and Digital Government Program. This initiative aims to optimize the ease of doing business and eliminate paper forms for service applications on the island. Hence, it has the potential to expand online payment capabilities to increase financial inclusion.
The Ministry of Minerals announced a new initiative to help small-scale miners make informed decisions and operate more sustainably. This includes collecting detailed geological data, working with technology partners, and providing modern mining equipment. The program could potentially benefit startups and investors interested in supporting or developing technologies for the mining industry. TukuTech, a Tanzanian drone-as-a-service startup, will be an important player in the public-private partnership.
The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) has begun trial runs of its new SGR electric train from Dar es Salaam to Pwani (Coast region). The trials will soon be extended to Morogoro. Official passenger services are expected to start in July 2024.
Discussions at the 5th Generative AI Meetup hosted at Stanbic Bank highlighted the need to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in Tanzania. Presentations covered various areas of AI application. For example, Neurotech founder Kalebu Gwalugano explored fine-tuning large language models (LLMs), Lwifunyo Mangulu introduced his artificial consultant tool "fikiriAI", and Steven Manangu shared his machine learning research on supervised domain adaptation (SDA). He discussed SDA as a valuable technique, helping models adapt to new situations with limited labeled data. The meetup also featured a "Pitch Without Pressure" session to help startup founders validate their AI solutions.
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