The Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology is set to identify and equip start-ups with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies during the Tanzania Annual ICT Conference 2024 (TAIC 2024).

Jerry Silaa, the Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, announced yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the eight conferences, themed "Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Socio-Economic Transformation," will take place from October 13 to 17.

"It will feature pre-conference events, including the African AI Competition, scheduled for October 13-14. The main TAIC 2024 event, which will include expert discussions and presentations, will occur from October 15 to 17," Silaa stated.

According to the Minister, TAIC 2024 aims to gather a wide range of participants, including ICT professionals, practitioners, academics, researchers, development partners, industry leaders, and digital technology innovators. He emphasized that start-up business owners and innovators will be encouraged to showcase their innovations at the conference.

Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of the ICT Commission, revealed that to support innovators and foster their growth, the Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) valued at 8 billion shillings with the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) in June. This MoU aims to establish regional innovation incubation hubs.

Under the government-funded program known as "National Digital Innovation Acceleration," the ICT Commission will provide funds to SIDO to develop these hubs, enabling youth to acquire skills and knowledge necessary for establishing more start-up companies. This initiative aligns with Tanzania's efforts to create a competitive youth population for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.

Dr. Mwasaga explained that the program involves establishing six digital innovation hubs and two equipment innovation hubs, with initial development focused on six regions before expanding nationwide in phases.

"The six digital innovation hubs will be located in Mwanza, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mbeya, and Lindi, while the two equipment innovation hubs will be established in Arusha and Dar es Salaam," said Dr. Mwasaga.

The program also targets the youth, who make up 21 million of Tanzania's total population of 61.7 million, to capitalize on regional and continental digital economy opportunities.

"Our primary goal is to facilitate the establishment of start-ups in economic sectors such as mining, tourism, services, agriculture, and transportation," Dr. Mwasaga noted.

He emphasized that the innovation centers will serve as dedicated spaces for youth to incubate their innovative ideas, ultimately contributing to the economy by creating decent jobs and significantly increasing the current two percent contribution of the ICT sector to the country's GDP.

Additionally, he mentioned that a similar MoU has been signed with the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO).