Effective knowledge sharing: the Tanzanian Industrial Research and Development Organization as mediator between the foreign and local sector.

Abstract

In order for African countries to reduce poverty, knowledge sharing plays a crucial role. This paper argues that the interactions between various actors in a country are of major importance for effective knowledge flows between those stakeholders that may contribute to facilitating new knowledge of relevance for economic growth. The Tanzanian Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO) is in this paper examined as a case of an organization with potential of becoming a key player for knowledge sharing between various actors in the economy. More specifically, TIRDO's role as a potential mediator between the foreign sector, constituted of multinational enterprises and the local companies is investigated. It is demonstrated how knowledge, gained through the cooperation with multinational enterprises could be shared with local companies and re-implemented in the local context. This form of knowledge sharing between actors in the economy is seen as very crucial for using the knowledge available in the economy in a way that facilitates local economic development initiatives.