# As good as a catalyst

**Source**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/as-good-as-a-catalyst/
**Parent**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/page/2/

As part
of the
efforts
to
strengthen
ties
with
partner
universities,
IIT
Madras
hosted a
nine-member
delegation
from The
Nelson
Mandela
African
Institution
of
Science
and
Technology
(NM-AIST),
Tanzania.
The
visit,
whose
primary
goal was
to gain
insights
from
IIT-M’s
successfully-implemented
incubation
centres,
also
gave the
delegation
an
opportunity
to visit
Research
Park to
learn
more
about
the
startup
ecosystem.
Prof.
Anthony
Mshandete
and
Prof.
Suzana
Augustino,
Deputy
Vice
Chancellors
of
NM-AIST,
share
some of
the
specific
challenges
that
were
addressed
during
the
course
of their
visit.

**By
the
Office
of
Global
Engagement**

**Purpose
of
the
visit**

We are
basically
here to
learn
from
IIT-M
and to
customise
what we
have
learnt
in our
institution
because
it fits
very
well; we
have an
incubation
centre
just
like
IIT. So,
this
visit,
for us,
is like
a
catalyst.
At the
same
time, we
have
come to
learn
about a
global
problem
that
academia
faces.
In
Tanzania,
we have
academicians
doing
research,
getting
their
PhDs,
and
sharing
knowledge.
But they
need to
think
beyond
that.
During
the
course
of this
visit,
we have
been
taught
to
change
that
traditional
mindset.
At
IIT-M,
we have
been
told:
“Okay, I
know you
are here
to share
knowledge,
but you
can also
commercialise
it and
can
commercialise
technology.”
That is
the
mindset
we have
to
borrow
from
IIT-M.
It is
important
to not
shy away
from
commercialising
our
knowledge
in terms
of
science
and
technology.
Because
that is
how we
can make
an
impact
in
society.
IIT-M
seems to
have
learnt
this
from the
U.S and
they
have
brought
that
model to
India.
It is
working
perfectly
well for
your
country…they
are
increasing
the
number
of
patents
in India
and
abroad.
We have
lots to
learn
from
this
model.
Because
we can
easily
customise
this
back
home for
the
benefit
of our
economy
and the
country
at
large.

**—
Anthony
Mshandete**

**A
learning
curve**

The
challenge
NM-AIST
faces
today is
shared
globally.
The
first of
which
was
explained
by Prof.
Anthony,
which is
the
mindset
of
faculty
members.
The
second
is on
the
research
side;
writing
competitive
research
proposals
to win
grants
has been
a
challenge,
especially
in
developing
countries.
This
could be
a
potential
area
where we
can
collaborate
with
IIT-M,
especially
on
creating
a link
with the
industry
which is
the
resource
for
money.
Because
we
shouldn’t
always
rely on
the
government
to
inject
money
into
research
institutions.
After
observing
the
technologies
and
innovations
coming
from
higher
learning
institutions,
it is
about
time the
industry
contributes
towards
research
and
development.
So,
having
money
come
from the
market
and
collaborating
in the
art of
writing
proposals
are the
challenges
we have
today.
The
other
key
challenge
we have
is the
infrastructure.
This is
one area
where we
could
collaborate
with
IIT-M;
the
campus
is very
beautiful
and the
whole
setup of
this
institute
is so
amazing.
One of
the
things
that
really
impressed
us about
IIT-M is
the role
of
alumni
and the
interest
they
show in
paying
back to
the
institution
through
investments,
getting
grants,
and
facilitating
the
whole
process.
We see
the
passion
the
alumni
have for
the
mother
institution.
This is
truly an
eye
opener
for us,
and it
is
doable
even
back
home. We
haven’t
thought
about it
so far.
That
alumni
could
also pay
back.

**—
Suzana
Augustino**

**IIT-M
goes
to
Zanzibar**

I find
it so
exciting.
And
first of
all, IIT
is going
to the
other
part of
Tanzania,
in
Zanzibar,
where
collaboration
has been
very
minimal
with
international
partners.
But
NM-AIST
has
collaborated
with
other
partners
in
India.
They
have
supported
us a lot
in terms
of ICT
(information
and
communications
technology)
infrastructure.
The
government
of India
supported
us with
70
batteries
for
free. We
have a
problem
with
power,
which is
not
stable
in our
country.
And this
is one
thing we
have
learnt
from
India.
That we
can
really
invest
in solar
power
and get
rid of
the
hydro
power,
which
has
problems
due to
climate
change.
Having
visited
IIT-M,
we look
forward
to
establishing
a long
term
relationship
with
this
institution
because
of the
compatibility
we share
internationally.
We could
see a
great
potential
to
exchange
faculty
members
as well
as
students
for the
benefit
of the
respective
institutions.
Students
from
Chennai
can also
come to
NM-AIST
and
learn
from the
experience.

**—
Suzana.**

I IT
Madras
is
engaging
with
Tanzania
and
Zanzibar
through
substantive
educational
initiatives.
Several
Tanzanian/Zanzibar
students
are
expected
to join
IIT
Madras
in
postgraduate
programmes
this
fall.
This
visit is
another
example
of how
IIT
Madras
is
engaging
with
Tanzania/Zanzibar
in
supporting
the
education/innovation
ambitions
of the
region,
while
also
learning
from the
visiting
delegation.

**— 
Prof.
Raghunathan
Rengaswamy,
Dean,
Global
Engagement.**

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