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Mzumbe University has officially launched the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation (CAIRI), marking a significant milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to advance a knowledge-driven and technology-enabled economy. The launch event, held on April 13, 2026, at the university’s Main Campus in Morogoro, brought together government officials, international partners, academic staff, industry stakeholders, and students. Addressing participants at the event, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Hawa Tundui said the establishment of CAIRI reflects the university’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into teaching, research, and community engagement. She stated that AI has become a critical tool in shaping modern economies and emphasized the importance of building local capacity to develop and manage such technologies. The centre has been established under the AI4STEM project, a joint initiative between Mzumbe University and Ghent University of Belgium, with support from the VLIR-UOS programme. According to Project Coordinator Dr. Tupokigwe Isagah, the project began by addressing challenges in STEM education through AI-driven solutions and is now expanding to cover broader sectors, including governance, business, and public administration. Meanwhile, Government officials representating Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and National Planning Commission reaffirmed their support for the initiative, noting that Artificial Intelligence is already influencing key sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and public service delivery. They stated that the government has developed guidelines to support the integration of AI in education and emphasized that the establishment of CAIRI aligns with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, which prioritizes science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic growth. As part of the partnership, Ghent University has donated a high-performance NVIDIA GPU server to support AI research at Mzumbe University. The collaboration has also produced academic outputs and digital tools aimed at improving learning outcomes, particularly in STEM subjects. Separately, The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. Tukae Mbegalo, said the faculty will support the centre through its academic and research programmes, adding that CAIRI is expected to contribute to technological advancement in the country. The launch of CAIRI positions Mzumbe University as a key contributor to the growth of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the country, with expectations that the centre will drive research, foster innovation, and support the development of practical solutions to national challenges.