TANZANIA is at a critical turning point- staring down the double-barreled microscope of industrial growth and scientific innovation.
As the global economy pivots toward knowledge-based industries, one thing is clear: Biotech is not just a buzzword, it is a golden ticket.
And who’s holding that ticket? Not slow-moving traditional institutions.
Nope. It is the lean, mean, innovation machines-startups-that are shaking up the game. At the front of this biological revolution is Daba Biotech, a proudly Tanzanian venture proving that science and success can, in fact, be homegrown.
With smart support from government bodies and ministries that understand the assignment, Tanzania could build an ecosystem where biotech startups do not just survive—they dominate. Think Silicon Valley, but with more test tubes and less tech bros.
Unlike older institutions bogged down by “we’ve always done it this way” syndrome, startups are agile, focused and allergic to mediocrity. They are not here to polish old ideas; they are here to throw the status quo into a centrifuge and spin it into something new.
And this is not just wishful thinking. Global data backs it up: Patents from startups are 1.5 times more likely to be disruptive than those from academia. Why? Because startups have everything to gain and nothing to lose. They’re built for bold moves, not board meetings.
Here, Dr Abdalah Makaranga, industrial biotechnologist and co-founder of Daba Biotech, has a vision. And it is not just about microscopes and molecules, it is about policy.
“Tanzania’s biotech future doesn’t rest solely on research funding,” says Dr Makaranga. “It rests on smart policies that support startup incubation, local procurement and turning research into real-world products.”
In simpler terms: Stop publishing great ideas and start producing them.
Dr Makaranga points to India as a textbook case of how to get it right. Back in 2014, India had a modest 50 biotech startups. Today? Over 10,000. That is not growth—that is an explosion.
The secret sauce? Innovation-friendly policies, government grants, strong public-private partnerships and a powerful manufacturing infrastructure. In the past decade, India’s bioeconomy has ballooned 16-fold, turning the country into a global force in health, agriculture and industrial biotech.
Then there’s China, where startups like DeepSeek are going head-to-head with global tech titans like NVIDIA and Microsoft. “They’re not just competing—they’re disrupting entire sectors,” says Dr Makaranga. The message is clear: Strategic support = global impact.
So, what’s stopping Tanzania from doing the same? Spoiler: Not much.
Tanzania already has a skilled workforce, rich biodiversity and key institutions. What it needs now is a policy power-up—one that puts biotech startups front and centre in national development.
Dr Makaranga says it best: “We can either keep buying foreign biotech solutions or become the exporters of our own innovations.” Translation: It’s time to choose whether we want to be consumers or creators.
And it’s not just about cool science—it’s about impact. With the right support, startups like Daba Biotech can turn cutting-edge research into jobs, products and real transformation. The government’s role? Lay the groundwork and then get out of the way.
Backing startups isn’t just economic policy—it’s a future-proofing strategy.
Prof Joseph Ndunguru, Director General of the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), agrees that startup support could turbocharge Tanzania’s innovation engine.
“When you fund scientist-led startups,” he explains, “you help take discoveries out of the lab and into the real world.” The result? Breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture and the environment that don’t just exist in journals—they actually help people.
Take public health, for example. Biotech startups often tackle challenges like vaccines, diagnostics and personalised medicine. Supporting them isn’t just about business—it’s about biosecurity. If (or when) another pandemic hits, wouldn’t it be nice to have homegrown solutions?
Plus, when the government invests in science-backed startups, it sends a powerful message: “We believe in our scientists.” That kind of confidence can stop brain drain in its tracks and keep top talent innovating right here at home.
In the long run, nurturing a strong biotech ecosystem positions Tanzania not just as a player—but as a leader—in global science and innovation. It’s not just about joining the race. It’s about setting the pace.
To wrap it up: Tanzania doesn’t need to reinvent the microscope. The pieces are already here—talent, resources, vision. What’s needed now is the glue: smart policy, strategic investment and a belief that biotech startups are not just small players in a big field—they’re the main event.
