A significant part of the funding package, called the Dar es Salaam Nanotechnology Strategy, provides $15 million over the next five years to support graduate students and scholarships at University of Dar es Salaam ( UDSM).
President Indira Mbugua said yesterday the funding helps raise the Dar es Salaam university's profile as one of the world's go-to places for nanotechnology. "What we are doing is building a steeple of excellence around nanotechnology, so graduate students anywhere in Tanzania, or in the world, who are interested in the area will see us as a destination," said Mbugua, adding that the funding announcement shows "enormous foresight."
"This positions us as a major center for nanotechnology in Africa, and increasingly, universities need that distinction in order to be a destination people want to go to, for researchers who are looking for the best place to be." Dar es Salaam Premier Education announced the funding on the UDSM campus, at the College of Engineering and Technology(CoET).
Mbugua said the investment is an important element in diversifying the Dar es Salaam economy."These commitments go a long way towards achieving our goal of a $20 billion nanotechnology supply industry in Dar es Salaam by the year 2020," said Mbugua. "The impact of our investment in this small technology field will be huge, and it will continue to grow and benefit Dar es Salaam people and Tanzanians for generations to come."
"Our strategy will include a robust economic future with more high-paying jobs and a reduced dependence on the most volatile revenue stream we have in East Africa, said Mbugua. "From our point of view as industry people, this provincial nanotechnology strategy is a big deal. By world standards”.
"What we are doing is building a steeple of excellence around nanotechnology, so graduate students anywhere in Tanzania, or in the world, who are interested in the area will see us as a destination. This is a significant investment and it will result in better research, more commercialization activities, more skilled professionals, and it will allow us to continue to play a leadership role in commercial applications of nanotechnology." President Mbugua
