George Achia writing in SciDev:
On the need for interactive learning:...a wood-carving market benefitted when the government gave four groups of firms a start-up fund of 32 million Tanzanian shillings (around US$19,000) through the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), to enable them to expand their business initiatives using science and technology.
As well as the woodworking cluster, the funding went to an ICT (information communication technology) cluster, a furniture-making cluster and a handloom cluster.
Each cluster is made up of firms within the same geographical area, and was set up with the aim of establishing links between them to improve their collective competitiveness.
"Today we talk about IKEA — the Swedish company that designs and sells furniture — as one of the best suppliers of furniture in the world. This is because it knows which timber is good for which product, treatment and design, and the best technology to use [in furniture construction]."More here
Mshinda adds that clusters provide an excellent environment for innovation to thrive through interaction and learning.
For Tanzania to fast-track its economic growth, he says, already established clusters should be helped to access and benefit from science, technology and innovation.
Images and video courtesy of Steve's Africa Blog