TZ, Hungary partner to boost digital innovation, AI adoption
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has reached a major milestone in its digital transformation journey following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SmartLab Limited, the country’s leading innovation hub and Hungary’s MeOut Group.
The high-level signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in Dar es Salaam and was graced by Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and the Minister for Finance, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba underscoring the importance of international collaboration in driving Africa’s innovation agenda.
Under the MoU, SmartLab and MeOut Group will collaborate to accelerate digital innovation, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption between Africa and Europe.
Key initiatives of the partnership include the establishment of Living Labs in Tanzania to pilot AI-powered solutions in areas such as agriculture, climate change adaptation and digital inclusion.
The collaboration will also focus on capacity building for youth, women and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through specialised training in digital skills, AI, and entrepreneurship. In addition, the agreement promotes knowledge exchange between European innovators and Tanzanian stakeholders.
SmartLab CEO Edwin Bruno hailed the partnership as a major step forward for Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem.
“This partnership reaffirms SmartLab’s role at the heart of Tanzania’s innovation landscape. It positions our country as a gateway for Africa-Europe collaboration in AI and digital transformation—ensuring that youth, women and SMEs remain at the forefront of these opportunities,” he said.
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MeOut Group President Attila Sándor echoed the sentiment, highlighting the inclusive nature of the initiative.
“MeOut and SmartLab will build inclusive digital growth pathways, ensuring that farmers, youth and women entrepreneurs directly benefit from AI and digital tools,” he said. “Tanzania is the right partner and SmartLab is the right hub to lead this journey.”
Founded in 2018, SmartLab has supported over 100 startups and impacted more than 10,000 young entrepreneurs and women through entrepreneurship programmes, talent development and innovation initiatives.
MeOut Group, based in Budapest, operates in over 30 countries and is known for designing and implementing global projects in innovation, education and entrepreneurship.
The partnership also aligns with Horizon Africa (AgriFutures.AI)—a joint European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) initiative focused on applying AI to agricultural monitoring across the continent. With SmartLab serving as Tanzania’s focal point, the agreement is expected to significantly enhance the country’s innovation capacity and cement its role as a regional leader in digital transformation.
