Youth innovators told to build for market
DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG innovators should focus on building products that meet customer needs rather than chasing quick profits, according to the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).
COSTECH Acting Director Dr Erasto Mlyuka said many young innovators struggle to build sustainable businesses because they seek quick returns and abandon products before gaining market acceptance.
“The problem with youths is that they want a quick win instead of studying the client’s needs and improving where necessary,” Dr Mlyuka told the ‘Daily News’ in an interview recently.
He said innovators should remain committed to their products, using customer feedback to refine quality and functionality instead of moving prematurely to new ideas.
Products often require time and continued improvement before customers become familiar with them and develop confidence in their quality, he said.
Dr Mlyuka said innovation should not end with the development of a product, arguing that entrepreneurs must take their ideas through the commercialisation process, including protecting intellectual property and identifying viable markets.
He urged innovators to register intellectual property rights to establish ownership and protect their creations from copying or misuse.
“In order to have assurance with your innovation, you should have legal protection for the product and explore where you can sell it, give it out, allow people to use it and so forth,” he said.
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He said innovators should also recognise the commercial value of their creations and treat intellectual property as an asset that requires protection and strategic development.
The advice highlights a broader challenge facing youth entrepreneurship: Converting innovation into businesses capable of generating sustained revenue and competing in the market.
For innovators, developing a new product is only the first step. Understanding customer demand, testing market acceptance, improving products and securing intellectual property rights are critical to turning an idea into a viable commercial venture.
Dr Mlyuka’s remarks come as youth innovation and entrepreneurship receive increasing attention as potential drivers of investment, economic growth and job creation.
